Press Release:
CHEYENNE, WY– On January 2nd, 2019, a fatal crash occurred at milepost 69 on Interstate 25 near Wheatland, Wyoming. Around 10:21 a.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the area for a two-vehicle collision.
A 2004 Toyota Corolla was traveling north on Interstate 25 when the driver heard a strange noise coming from the vehicle. The driver pulled to the emergency shoulder to investigate the noise. The front seat passenger who was the registered owner exited the vehicle. While the passenger was standing in front of the Toyota, a farm tractor hauling hay collided with the stopped vehicle in the emergency lane. The farm tractor came to a stop partially blocking the northbound lanes of the interstate. The driver of the farm tractor backed up to clear the interstate and collided with the passenger of the Toyota.
The passenger of the Toyota who was struck by the farm tractor has been identified as 21-year-old Lacey, Washington resident John Steele. Steele succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash. The driver and other passengers in the Toyota were all restrained and did not sustain any injuries.
The driver of the farm tractor was a Wheatland, Wyoming resident and was not injured.
This is the 1st fatality on Wyoming’s highways in 2019 compared to 0 in 2018, 0 in 2017, and 0 in 2016 to date.
Criminal charges are to be determined depending on the outcome of the investigation.