Thursday, March 5, 2026 |
Photo – Carbon County Coroner’s Office – Bigfoot99 file photo
Last year, the county coroner handled more cases than in 2024.
During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, County Coroner Brittany Nyman presented her annual report. In 2025, Nyman said she responded to 50 calls compared with 42 the previous year. Of those calls, she reported fewer homicides, but more suicides and natural deaths. Nyman added that 2025 also saw a decline in undetermined cases.
The skeletal remains Nyman referred to are likely the skull discovered by a rock hunter near Baggot Rocks in October and the December recovery of human bones near a well site on BLM land.
The county coroner went into detail about each category. Nyman reported that the majority of accidental deaths were caused by vehicle crashes, with a single drug overdose and one choking death. Natural deaths are typically linked to underlying medical issues, such as heart disease.
Of the six suicides she investigated in 2025, Nyman said four involved self‑inflicted gunshots, one fall, and one individual hanged themselves. The county coroner added that the number of deaths generally reflects the population of each municipality.
Nyman explained that drug deaths involve any fatality where drug use was a contributing factor. The county coroner reported that in 2025, two deaths were caused directly by drug use, and four others involved individuals who died of unrelated causes but had drugs in their system.
Last month, Coroner Nyman said Memorial Hospital of Carbon County administrators offered her a used X‑ray machine for $6,000, well below the average price of such equipment. The coroner said the machine would allow her office to avoid relying on the hospital to conduct all her X‑rays. The Board of Commissioners instructed Nyman to confirm that her office could accommodate the device without costly electrical upgrades.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Nyman said she brought the Board’s concerns to Memorial Hospital staff but had not received a response. The Board thanked her for the update.
