In just the last week, nine people died in highway crashes in Wyoming. Sadly, it is possible that many of these fatalities could have been avoided: according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, five of the eight people who died in car crashes were not wearing seatbelts. The ninth fatality occurred in a motorcycle accident.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that the first in this series of deadly crashes occurred on August 1, though the wreck and the victim were not found until four days later when a small airplane spotted them north of Sheridan. It is believed that Marvin Updike, 67, lost control of his Dodge Nitro towing a trailer on Interstate 90, rolled down an embankment, and landed in a ravine. Updike was not wearing a seatbelt.
On August 3, Daniel Sutherland died after another highway crash near Ranchester.
The following day, Thursday, August 4, three passengers died in a highway crash near Evanston. In this incident, driver Joseph Campbell, 37, collided with the trailer of a truck which was parked at a pull-off area on Interstate 80. Each of the three passengers who died in this wreck were not wearing seatbelts. Authorities report that Campbell may face charges related to this fatal crash.
On Friday, another crash on Interstate 80, this time near Rock Springs, resulted in one death and five injuries.
On Saturday, two people including one minor died from a highway crash in the Snake River canyon.
While investigations are still ongoing with each of these fatal crashes, authorities were immediately able to ascertain that the majority of the victims who perished were not wearing seatbelts. According to a report from the Wyoming Highway Patrol based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rate of seatbelt usage in Wyoming is much lower than the national average, at 78.6% compared to the national rate of 88.5%. Seatbelts can save lives in any car accident, but are especially vital in single-vehicle rollover crashes—the most common type of fatal car accident in Wyoming.
So far this year, there have been fewer highway fatalities in Wyoming (42) than by this date last year (66). While this reduction in highway accident deaths is notable, it is also notable that in 23 of the 39 fatal crashes this year, at least one vehicle occupant was not wearing a seatbelt.
As Sgt. David Wagener of the Wyoming Highway Patrol says, it is not always possible to prevent a highway crash or a rollover, but it is always possible to protect oneself by wearing a seatbelt. “It’s as simple as taking three seconds to put the seat belt on that’s already in the car,” Wagener said. “It’s not an additional expense. It comes with the car that you’re in.”
“Take that three seconds to buckle up, and take a couple extra seconds to make sure all the children in the car are properly restrained, so that they stay safe.”
If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in a car crash in Wyoming and you believe another person’s negligence caused or contributed to that crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering and damages. For more information, contact our experienced Wyoming car crash attorney to learn more in a free legal consultation.
