A head-on collision claimed the lives of at least 2 people late Wednesday afternoon just South of Mitchell.

According to the South Dakota Highway Patrol the accident occurred 6 miles south of Mitchell on highway 37. Detours were set up for traffic and smoke was seen for several miles.

A sheriff’s deputy told The Daily Republic that a 3-year-old girl was taken to a Mitchell hospital and then transported to Sioux Falls with serious injuries.

A passerby who came upon the accident used a knife to cut a seatbelt and rescue the child from a burning mini van. [PHOTO]

It has been determined that neither driver was wearing a seatbelt and both died in the crash.

More From KKRC-FM / 97.3 KKRC