Charges pending against Brandon man in fatal bike accident

Charges are pending against a Brandon man following a June 9 accident on Interstate 29 in Deuel County.

According to a press release from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Jean-Pierre “J.P.” Petit, 53, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was struck by a vehicle driven by Mark Akkerman, 65, of Brandon. The accident occurred near mile marker 149 about 17 miles north of Brookings at 11:52 a.m. on June 9.

The release stated that Petit, who sustained life-threatening injuries, was initially taken to a hospital in Brookings, then transferred to a hospital in Sioux Falls, where he died on Monday, June 13. 

The release stated that Petit was riding a Krypton Argon 18-speed bicycle southbound on I-29 when he was struck by a southbound 2015 International straight truck driven by Akkerman. Petit, who was wearing a helmet, was riding along the fogline on the outside of the interstate lane, the release said.

Akkerman was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. Petit was wearing a helmet, the release said.

In an effort to raise awareness about kidney disease and raise money for his granddaughter, who is need of a kidney transplant, Petit was attempting to cycle 838 miles from Winnipeg to Hot Springs in the Black Hills