Class 3a Encounter Report in Sturgis, SD, Case #25062401: wood ape, bigfoot, sasquatch

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Class 1a
Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.
1a A sasquatch/bigfoot specimen has been collected (alive or dead).
Class 1b
Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.
1b A report investigation results in a sasquatch observation or the documentation of clear tracks or other forms of physical evidence by an investigator.
Class 1c
Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.
1c An investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot by a very reliable observer is a distinct possibility, tangible corroborating evidence is documented, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 1d
Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.
1d A visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility involving two or more reliable observers, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 2
Class 2, Competency: Reports involving sightings by professionally trained or highly skilled observers.
2 Investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility, the observer is exceptionally trustworthy, professionally trained, and experienced in the outdoors and/or is accustomed to looking for and recording details (e.g., biologist, anthropologist/archaeologist, ranger, trapper/tracker/seasoned hunter, bird watcher, game warden, naturalist, law enforcement), and other explanations can be reasonably excluded.
Class 3a
Class 3, Credibility: Sightings or possible wood ape evidence reported by credible witnesses.
3a Investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility, the observer is credible, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 3b
Class 3, Credibility: Sightings or possible wood ape evidence reported by credible witnesses.
3b Unidentifiable vocalizations were reported and there is accompanying tangible evidence to possibly indicate the presence of a sasquatch/bigfoot, the observer is very reliable, and other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Class 3c
Class 3, Credibility: Sightings or possible wood ape evidence reported by credible witnesses.
3c No visual encounter occurred, but physical evidence was found to indicate the presence of a sasquatch/bigfoot (tracks, hair, scat, etc.), the observer is very reliable, and other sources can be reasonably ruled out.


Case: 25062401

Class 3a

Woman Has Late Night Close Encounter With Large Hairy Bipedal Creature Along Rural Roadway

Report Details

Occurrence date: June/2025
Location: Meade County, SD
Nearby/Vicinity: Sturgis
Time / Conditions: 22:00 — 60 degrees and clear, 20 minutes or so after sun down, was completely dark
# of Witnesses: 1

Witness Account:
Driving from Deadwood to Rapid City, right outside of Sturgis I passed a sasquatch on the side of the road. He must’ve climbed over the metal barricade and stood still. Dark reddish brown fur and easily cleared the top of my vehicle (at least 7ft) tall. I saw him first through the corner of my windshield and then through the passenger window. He stood still and I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but was far too dark to be a deer or elk, and moved too quickly over the barricade to be a bear. I could clearly see standing on two legs but shoulders were not visible as they were taller than my vehicle (ford explorer). I did not see him move after passing as it was pitch black behind me and tried to look in the rear view mirror but was too scared to stop or turn around. I drove for another roughly 2.5 miles before the first road sign (Aurora Pl in Sturgis).

Physical evidence:
I was able to run over to Deadwood yesterday and grab better photos of the location.

Barricade is about 3ft in height and space between barricade and road is closer to 3.5ft.

Hand/foot prints:
N/a

Sounds:
N/a

Additional observations:
N/a

Investigator's Observations

Investigator(s): Ed Duprey

"I had a phone interview with the witness last evening (6/25/25) for about 20 minutes or so and I found her credible and I believe she believes she saw a wood ape and in my opinion the report should be published. She also stated she was a believer before her encounter. She stated she would sign her life away on what she believes she witnessed. "

—-—————————————————————————————

She was driving east at approx. 30-35 mph with her bright lights on and estimates her line of sight was about 500 feet on a relatively straight stretch of that road. She was driving at that slower speed because that road is known for big horn sheep and deer accidents.

Her vehicle is a Ford Explorer that measures 6.5’ tall and the wood ape was at least one foot taller than that. It was facing her with arms straight down (she did not see its face as she was on it and next to it in an instant). It stood there motionless. She felt like it was attempting to cross the road. She said her dad is 6’4” and 200+ lbs and it was much larger then him.

She thinks the wood ape was stepping over a guardrail and standing right on the narrow shoulder between her passenger side of her vehicle and the guardrail. She claims it was only a couple of feet away as she passed it.

She reported she was far too frightened to stop.

The night was clear with a waning moon but I know that canyon road (been down there at least a dozen times) and it is very dark with high cliff sides (it is a canyon in the truest sense).

Photos


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