Wrestler injured in crash

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BROOKINGS – Nathan Rotert, a wrestler for the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits, was injured in a car vs. moped accident July 12, according to an accident report by the Brookings Police Department.

Rotert, 22, of Brookings and originally from Spearfish, was riding a 2006 Honda moped and sustained “incapacitating injury,” according to the report. The only safety equipment Rotert was wearing was eye protection, and he was transported to the Brookings emergency room by EMS, according to the report.

Rotert was transferred to a Sioux Falls hospital for further care, confirmed Jason Hove, assistant athletic director for sports information with SDSU.

“He was later released and is expected to make a full recovery that will allow him to wrestle this season,” Hove said, adding he couldn’t release any more information due to HIPAA laws.

The accident was reported at 3:59 p.m. July 12 and occurred at the intersection of Medary Avenue and First Street.

Dwarika Bhattarai, 24, of Brookings, was driving a 2002 Ford Taurus. He was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.

There were a total of three occupants in the Taurus. Santosh Chapagain, 27, of Brookings, a passenger in the Taurus, sustained non-incapacitating injuries and was not transported. Air bags were not deployed.

Bhattarai told officers he was traveling south on Medary Avenue and turned left onto First Street after a vehicle drove by and he did not see the moped driven by Rotert traveling north on Medary Avenue.

“Witness said he saw (Bhattarai) turn quickly after another vehicle drove by him. He also said the moped did not have any time to react,” according to the report.

Rotert’s moped hit the passenger side of the Taurus, according to the diagram in the report.

“(Rotert) was unable to remember much about the collision due to his injuries,” the report said.

The moped sustained disabling damage estimated at $1,500. The Taurus sustained functional damage estimated at $3,500, according to the report.

Rotert, a 6-foot junior, was a three-time NCAA qualifier in the 197-pound weight class, according to gojacks.com. He was the Big 12 Conference runner up in 2015-16 and won 22 or more matches in all three seasons. He has a 71-32 overall record and a 36-13 dual record.