Rapid City man sentenced to 40 years in prison for vehicular DUI homicide in September 2023

RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – The Rapid City man who pleaded guilty in August to vehicular homicide in the death of his girlfriend was sentenced Friday afternoon in Seventh Circuit Court.

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Seth Keim, 28, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with 15 years suspended, for driving under the influence resulting in the death of his girlfriend Lexi Hagen last September.

Keim was weaving in and out of traffic on Haines Avenue at a speed of 45 to 60 miles per hour when he collided with a police car heading to a service call. The officer involved in the incident suffered a concussion.

The state argued that Keim’s blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit. Additionally, this incident was his fourth DUI offense and his second DUI offense involving hitting a police car, earning him an extended sentence.

In court, Keim said he apologized deeply, saying: “As a result of my actions, I lost the love of my life. I wonder how our lives would have been different if I hadn’t driven that night.

Judge Joshua Hendrickson also imposed a 10-year driver’s license suspension, effective once Keim is released on parole.

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