Police: Man involved in fatal crash in Presho had expired work visa – Mitchell Republic

PRESHO, SD – A South African man who authorities say caused a fatal accident while driving a tractor had an expired work visa, according to court documents.

Jan Bothma, 31, was charged with second-degree manslaughter, a Class 4 felony. He was the driver of a Case IH farm tractor/sprayer that was involved in an accident on April 25 in Presho.

He is charged with one count each of reckless driving and failing to stop at a stop sign. Court documents show Bothma’s visa expired on December 20, 2023.

Chance Veurink, 33, of Vivian, who was driving a 2021 Ford Ranger, died at the scene.

According to a police affidavit, Bothman told the South Dakota Highway Patrol that he was driving north and the Ford pickup was traveling west. Bothman told officers he looked as he approached an intersection but did not come to a complete stop and did not see the pickup, so he pushed it about 100 yards north where both vehicles came to a stop.

An eyewitness and surveillance camera footage confirmed that the tractor had not stopped, according to court documents.

An obituary for Veurink states that he grew up in New Holland, where he attended Dakota Christian School, and worked as a utility worker. According to an accident report, Veurink was wearing a seatbelt.

Bothma, who was uninjured in the accident, made his first court appearance on Thursday, May 9. He is scheduled 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 prison and a $2,000 fine.

Presho is located in Lyman County in central South Dakota, 40 miles west of the Missouri River.

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