Body hit by semi on I-90 was 16-year-old boy

The body that was hit by a semi-trailer on Interstate 90 on Thursday night has been identified as Jay Gary Lavender, a 16-year-old boy from rural Sioux Falls.

The Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office was dispatched at 10:36 p.m. Thursday and found a body at mile marker 397 that had been struck.

Westbound traffic was shut down at mile marker 399.

Deputies investigating believe a white semi-trailer with a large grill guard struck the victim and continued westbound. A witness saw the vehicle stopped about a quarter of a mile west of the body, but the driver did not get out. It is unknown if the driver knew someone was hit.

Capt. Jim Hoekman said police responded to an earlier call in that area of a child in need of supervision. It is unknown at this time if the two calls are related.

Sgt. Preston Evans said there's a bridge over the interstate at that point so they don't know if the person jumped off the bridge or was walking on the road.

The Sheriff’s Office is specifically looking to speak with the driver of a white semi-truck that may have witnessed the accident. Call 605-367-7000 if you have any information.

A representative from the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office discussed the case in briefing Friday:

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