January 30, 2023 |
Interstate 80 remained closed Monday morning following a massive crash involving over three dozen vehicles, most of them big rigs, near Wagonhound Saturday afternoon. The Rawlins to Laramie stretch of the transportation corridor has remained closed since then. The crash occurred during a winter storm that has continued to pound the region.
According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, a total of 44 vehicles collided between the two separate crashes on Interstate 80. Multiple injuries were reported with the crashes and one confirmed fatality. Shortly after the initial call around 2 p.m. Saturday, a 10-79 dispatch code sent from the scene was a signal for the coroner to be notified.
The crashes occurred during a winter storm that left roads slick and icy. Visibility was poor. With snow pounding the scene and temperatures dropping, the patrol transported non-injured to the Albany County Fairgrounds in Laramie. Bigfoot 99 has learned that school buses and their drivers from Laramie, Rawlins and Saratoga participated in the the effort to carry truck drivers and others to safety in the storm.
Video shot by a Highway Patrol Trooper while driving up to the crash scene between mile markers 261 and 267 showed at least 15 heavy wreckers queued up and waiting to to move to the front of the line to assist in the clean-up.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office issued an “all hands-on-deck call” Saturday as it dealt with the crash. In a Facebook post, the Albany County sheriff’s reported that “first responders from all agencies have been working diligently and tirelessly during this blast from mother nature. It is not safe out there folks and it’s probably best to stay indoors. Please send positive thoughts to all the first responders out there in the cold as this storm is supposed to progress throughout the weekend.”
Local law enforcement was busy with numerous crashes off the interstate through the weekend, as well.
The Highway Patrol reports that it is continuing to investigate the massive pileup at Wagonhound Road.
