Latest news with #WYDOT
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NTSB investigation reveals likely cause of deadly Green River Tunnel crash
GREEN RIVER, Wyo. () — The (NTSB) released a into the in Wyoming, saying the event was likely caused by a pickup truck crashing just after exiting the tunnel. Three people were killed in the Feb. 14 crash, and 20 people were treated for injuries sustained in the crash, the NTSB said. Preliminary details revealed that the first pickup truck that crashed — a 2006 Toyota Tundra — reportedly spun while exiting the tunnel, hit a metal guardrail, came to a stop near the exit of the tunnel, and then blocked the right lane, according to the NTSB. PREVIOUSLY: 3 victims killed in Green River Tunnel crash identified, 18 people treated for injuries 'Snow had fallen earlier in the day, and although the weather was clear, the roadway was wet with possible ice and/or slush forming near the tunnel exit,' the NTSB said. The variable speed limit on I-80 and through the tunnel was reduced from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour because of the weather. After the pickup truck crashed, a tractor-trailer attempted to avoid crashing into the pickup truck, but hit the left side of the tunnel. The tractor-trailer stopped on the shoulder, after which another vehicle attempted to stop and began to spin before striking a guardrail and stopping against a hillside. Another semitrailer hit the brakes to avoid hitting the vehicles ahead, causing it to jackknife inside the tunnel and block both lanes just before the tunnel exit. A Dodge pickup truck in the left lane, carrying four people, crashed into the jackknifed truck. Another semi-truck crashed into the tunnel wall and 'collided with and overrode' the pickup truck. Two occupants of the Dodge truck received deadly injuries, and a third person died from a 'postcrash fire' after being trapped inside a 'tractor/semitrailer combination vehicle,' the NTSB said. On Feb. 18, the (WYDOT) as Christopher Johnson, 20; Quentin Romero, 22; and Harmanjeet Singh, 30. Johnson and Romero were both from Rawlins, Wyoming, and Singh was from Nova Scotia, Canada, according to WYDOT. All three succumbed to their injuries at the scene. At the top of its report, the NTSB clarifies that the information shared is preliminary and subject to change. 'All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar events,' the NTSB said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Noncitizen ID bill passes House, fails concurrence vote
CHEYENNE — A bill to include text denoting that someone is not a U.S. citizen on state identification cards has passed the Wyoming House of Representatives, but changes made in that chamber were rejected by the Senate. On Thursday, the House voted on third and final reading to pass Senate File 33, 'Noncitizen driver's license and ID card-revisions.' During committee of the whole debate on Tuesday, the House adopted an amendment to the bill that would change language from 'not a U.S.' to 'not a U.S. citizen,' as recommended by the House Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee. Currently, Wyoming state IDs and driver's licenses for noncitizens say 'NR,' which stands for 'nonresident.' Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray has said that is a 'tenuous' description that could be unclear to election judges, who have to determine voter eligibility at the polls. The Wyoming Department of Transportation has testified in committee about the amount of space on the card, saying there wasn't room for an entire line of text reading 'not a U.S. citizen' on the state-issued ID card. After passing on third reading in the House Thursday morning, SF 33 failed a concurrence vote in the Senate, meaning it will be sent to a joint conference committee to reconcile differences. Sen. Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne, told his fellow senators that adding the word 'citizen' to the line of text on the identification cards would 'ignore the request of (WYDOT) to keep it short.' Sen. Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne (2025) Sen. Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne 'I have polled my committee, and we all agree we should honor the wishes of the department, so that down the line when we want to add another thing, we will have some real estate there,' Pappas said. Neither body has allocated any funding for the change. On Wednesday, Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, proposed a second-reading amendment to allocate $67,000 to WYDOT for the cost of printing. 'In order to enact the changes that we are requesting the department to do, I thought allocating some fiscal resources would be a smart move,' Sherwood said, continuing that lawmakers often discuss tight budgets at WYDOT. Rep. Mike Yin, D-Laramie, added that WYDOT is in 'maintenance mode for all of our roads.' 'If it is $67,000 to pay for this bill, that means $67,000 that isn't going to take care of roads in your neck of the woods,' Yin said. However, Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, said he did not support any additional funding for WYDOT after the Legislature appropriated $69 million in general fund money for the agency. Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette (2025) Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette 'There is a new influx of funds, so these minor expenditures that come along should be well taken care of,' Bear said. Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, pushed back, saying that he supported the appropriation. 'Unfunded mandates' are exactly why WYDOT is stretched so thin, he said. 'What we've been doing for the past 14 years is doing these unfunded mandates, placing another burden on them and saying, 'Well, you guys have money. Go figure it out'.' Sherwood's amendment failed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
3 dead in fiery Wyoming tunnel crash
GREEN RIVER, Wyoming (KTVX) — Three people are dead following a multi-vehicle crash in the westbound tunnel of I-80 in Green River, Wyoming, on Friday, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The crash and apparent fire were first reported around noon on Friday. The WYDOT shared traffic camera photos showing thick black smoke billowing out of the westbound tunnel as traffic piled up. Active fire in the tunnel initially delayed the investigation as fire crews were still battling spot fires in the tunnel by 9:30 p.m. that night. Few additional details about the fiery incident, including what may have started it, have been released. Authorities have determined the Valentine's Day crash involved 'multiple passenger and commercial vehicles in the middle and western parts' of the tunnel. The Green River Tunnels are located along I-80 under Castle Rock, a snow-covered sandstone formation that looms over the town of Green River in the state's southwest, roughly 270 miles west of Cheyenne. WYDOT confirmed two deaths early into the investigation. On Sunday, authorities confirmed a third death. PREVIOUSLY: Investigation continues after fatal Wyoming tunnel crash 'Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers and other first responders have confirmed one additional fatality as they work to investigate and clear the tragic Green River Tunnel crash that occurred at mm. 90.2 on Interstate 80 Friday,' a press release from WYDOT states. Wyoming Highway Patrol has reportedly cleared around half of the vehicles involved in the tunnel fire. Officials said they have reached close to the center of the tunnel, which extends roughly a quarter-mile. Investigators have determined that more than two dozen vehicles may have been involved — 10 passenger vehicles and 16 commercial vehicles. Wyoming officials say they had removed four passenger vehicles and nine commercial vehicles from the crash site Saturday night, officials said. Six commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles were reportedly completely destroyed in the event. WYDOT is currently planning to direct westbound traffic 'head-to-head' into the eastbound tunnel by Wednesday. There are no immediate concerns that the tunnel could collapse. 'Thank you to the community of Green River for your support in keeping traffic moving during this thorough and complicated investigation,' said WYDOT District Engineer John Eddins. 'We know that the detoured traffic was very impactful to your community this weekend, and we will continue to work to minimize impacts.' Wyoming authorities are reportedly working with the National Transportation Safety Board on parallel crash investigations. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Fiery multi-car pileup inside quarter-mile mountain tunnel leaves at least 2 dead, several injured
A fiery pileup inside a tunnel on Interstate 80 in Wyoming left at least two dead with five others injured late Friday morning. Fire and smoke billowed from the tunnel as people ran for safety. Several outlets reported that its structural integrity had been threatened. What We Know About The Victims Of The Philadelphia Crash The Wyoming Department of Transportation said on social media that geologists and bridge engineers with its team were "en route to assess the tunnel infrastructure." The crash happened around 11:37 a.m. in the westbound Green River Tunnel, which caused a fire inside the tunnel, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Read On The Fox News App College Students Killed In Fiery Cybertruck Accident Day Before Thanksgiving The smoke and an exploding tire inside the tunnel made it difficult for first responders to access it after the crash, Wyoming Highway Patrol Tpr. Nicholas Warren said. "My heart is broken for the families and loved ones of the victims of this terrible crash," WYDOT Director Darin Westby said in a statement. "My thoughts and prayers go out to all who are involved. WYDOT and WHP remain on scene to assist local emergency responders and provide additional support and traffic control." Fox News Digital has reached out to the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department for more information. "We want to express our sincerest appreciation to first responders in Sweetwater County for their support and assistance in responding to this tragic crash," Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Col. Karl Germain said in a statement. "Motorists are reminded to obey posted speed limits through the detour, and delays are likely." The highway remained closed in both directions Friday evening, with the eastbound lanes of the tunnel being used for first responder staging. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Fiery multi-car pileup inside quarter-mile mountain tunnel leaves at least 2 dead, several injured
