SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow was charged with second-degree manslaughter on Friday, two weeks after a deadly accident in which the long-time South Dakota politician sped through a stop sign, killing a motorcyclist.
Janklow, 63, could face up to 10 years in jail and $10,000 in fines if found guilty on the charges. He was also charged with reckless driving, speeding and failure to stop at a stop sign, according to Moody County State's Attorney William Ellingson.
The Republican has been at the center of a storm of public attention since the Aug. 16 accident, which occurred in the late afternoon as the former two-term governor drove south toward Sioux Falls down a stretch of a rural county highway.
An accident report issued by police found that Janklow was driving at 70 mph to 75 mph on the road, where speed was restricted to 55 mph when he ran through a stop sign and collided with a motorcycle driven by Randy Scott of Hardwick, Minnesota.