February 27, 2024 |
Photo – Wyoming Highway Patrol patch – Bigfoot99 file photo
A deadly Saturday afternoon crash closed the highway north of Rawlins.
At approximately 12:45pm, Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers and supporting units responded to a two-vehicle head-on crash at milepost 8.5 on Highway 287 north.
According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol report, a southbound Freightliner Cascadia owned by Illinois-based R&D Transit LLC lost control and travelled into the oncoming lane. The Freightliner was being driven by 46-year-old Cole Wayne Terry of Toledo, Ohio. The truck-trailer combination struck a northbound Toyota Avalon driven by 76-year-old Lillian Emelia Martin of Gillette. Martin’s Toyota became engulfed in flames. She was declared dead at the scene. The truck driver, who was wearing his seat belt, sustained no injuries.
Troopers arrested Terry at the scene. The truck driver faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, improper lane use, and failure to exercise extreme caution. Terry will be seen in Carbon County Circuit Court.
Highway 287 was closed for five hours as responders cleared the wreckage.
The report from the highway patrol report described road conditions as slushy with strong winds and blowing snow. Driving too fast for the conditions are considered contributing factors in the collision.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol gratefully acknowledges the assistance and support of its first responder partners.
