Police: Man involved in Presho fatal crash had expired work visa
May 9—PRESHO, S.D. — A South African man who authorities say caused a fatal crash while driving a tractor had an expired work visa, according to court documents.
Jan Bothma, 31, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, a Class 4 felony. He was the driver of a Case IH farm tractor/sprayer involved in a crash on April 25 in Presho.
He has been charged with one count each of reckless driving and failure to stop at a stop sign. Court documents indicate Bothma's visa expired on Dec. 20, 2023.
Chance Veurink, 33, of Vivian, driving a 2021 Ford Ranger, died at the scene of the crash.
According to a police affidavit, Bothman told the South Dakota Highway Patrol that he was traveling north and the Ford pickup was going westbound. Bothman told officers he looked when approaching an intersection but did not come to a complete stop and did not see the pickup, pushing it approximately 100 yards to the north where both vehicles came to a stop.
An eyewitness and security camera footage confirmed the tractor did not stop, according to court documents.
An obituary for Veurink says he grew up in New Holland, where he attended Dakota Christian School, and he worked as a utilities locator. A crash record said Veurink was wearing a seat belt.
Bothma, who was uninjured in the crash, had his initial appearance in court on Thursday, May 9. He is set to be arraigned on May 23.
Second-degree manslaughter is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. Reckless driving is punishable by two years in a county jail and a $2,000 fine.
Presho is in Lyman County in central South Dakota, 40 miles west of the Missouri River.
