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By: By VIRGINIA GIORGIS Pioneer Editor [email protected] - Updated: 2 days ago
CHEYENNE — I-80 was closed across Wyoming on a recent Wednesday due to bad weather and wrecks on the eastern side of the state, and the rolling closure backed up traffic at Evanston.
This followed two fatal crashes earlier in the week on I-80. A fatal crash occurred around milepost 26 on Interstate 80 east of Evanston on April 10, and Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a one-vehicle rollover at 7:25 p.m.
A 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer was headed west on Interstate 80 in the left lane of the interstate. As the vehicle continued west, it crossed into the right lane before exiting the right side of the road and overturning.
The driver of the Chevrolet has been identified as 53-year-old Evanston resident James G. La Rocco. La Rocco was not wearing a seatbelt and was transported by helicopter to the University of Utah, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
A possible medical condition is being investigated as a potential contributing factor.
This is the 19th fatality on Wyoming's roadways in 2022 compared to 25 in 2021, 19 in 2020, and 39 in 2019 to date.
There was a second fatal crash on I-80 early on a Tuesday morning. This accident involved an accident around milepost 52 on Interstate 80 east of Bridger Valley at the Church Buttes area. At 1:55 a.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a collision involving a commercial truck.
A 2003 Freightliner CBE commercial truck was headed west on Interstate 80. As the commercial truck crested a hill, the driver observed other crashes on the road and began to brake. As the commercial truck slowed, the unit's trailer began to jackknife to the right, causing the vehicle to exit the roadway and come to an abrupt stop. The sudden stop caused the load on the trailer to break free and slide into the cab portion of the truck. The trailer was hauling heavy metal piping and I-beams and was only secured with nylon strapping, the highway patrol said. With the sudden stop, the load dislodged and shifted to the front.
The driver of the Freightliner has been identified as 47-year-old Evans, Colorado resident Enrique L. Castro. Castro was not wearing a seatbelt and succumbed to his injuries at the crash scene.
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