South Dakota investigators: AG reported hitting deer but actually killed a pedestrian

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg was involved in a traffic accident that led to a fatality, Gov. Kristi Noem said Sunday.

Ravnsborg had not been drinking before he was involved in a fatal car crash, his office said Monday.

The accident happened about 10:30 p.m. Saturday in Hyde County, authorities said. Ravnsborg was driving from a Republican fundraiser in Redfield, South Dakota, to his home some 110 miles away in Pierre on Saturday night when he was involved in the crash on U.S. Highway 14, spokesman Tim Bormann said.

Ravnsborg was uninjured and said he immediately called 911. The Department of Public Safety said only that he told the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office that he had hit a deer and did not say whether he reported the crash in a 911 call.

The man, who was identified as 55-year-old Joseph Boever, was not found until Sunday morning. It took investigators nearly 22 hours to identify Boever’s body with a family member, leaving family members frustrated and suspicious, his cousin Nick Nemec said.

Noem announced that Secretary of Public Safety Craig Price will oversee the Highway Patrol’s investigation into the accident.

Price did not release any further details on the crash.

Ravnsborg said in a statement, "I am shocked and filled with sorrow following the events of last night."

Ravnsborg has received six traffic tickets for speeding in South Dakota over the last six years. He also received tickets for a seat belt violation and for driving a vehicle without a proper exhaust and muffler system.

He said he was cooperating with the investigation.