Search fatalities

Name Not Disclosed

Age :

Gender : Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 11/03/2021

Location : Interstate 80, Exit 99

City : Rock Springs

County : Sweetwater

State : Wyoming

Agency : Wyoming Highway Patrol

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 11/03/2021, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers stopped a 2021 Chrysler van at milepost 80 on Interstate 80 near Green River for a traffic infraction. A second trooper arrived as backup. After speaking with the troopers for a period of time, the driver returned to the Chrysler despite troopers attempting to prevent him from leaving. Police then escalated a pursuit eastbound toward Rock Springs.
.
The pursuit reached speeds exceeding 120 mph. From the original stop at milepost 80 to the eventual crash at Exit 99, the sequence extended approximately 19 miles along I-80.
.
At approximately milepost 97, law enforcement deployed spike strips. Wyoming Highway Patrol's account said the deployment was successful and deflated the Chrysler's tires, although contemporaneous reporting noted some uncertainty about whether the vehicle actually struck the strips. Either way, police continued the pursuit for approximately another two miles.
.
After taking Exit 99, the Chrysler struck the rear of a belly-dump combination commercial truck at high speed. The Chrysler's driver suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The commercial-truck driver was not injured.
.
After the fatal crash, troopers reported finding approximately 83 pounds of suspected marijuana inside the Chrysler. Importantly, that discovery occurred after the pursuit and was not the stated justification for the original traffic stop. The Highway Patrol described the initiating reason only as a traffic infraction.
.
TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality.
.
DISPOSITION:
No criminal charges against the Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were located for their roles in initiating and continuing the approximately 19-mile pursuit at speeds exceeding 120 mph.
.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Wyoming Highway Patrol did not publicly identify either the trooper who conducted the original traffic stop or the backup trooper who joined the stop and subsequent pursuit.
.
LITIGATION:
None found.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://trib.com/news/state-regional/crime-and-courts/driver-dies-in-collision-during-high-speed-pursuit-with-wyoming-highway-patrol/article_1323a5b0-e02d-579c-a4a2-3f5084299465.html
https://k2radio.com/car-chase-with-wyoming-highway-patrol-leads-to-fatal-crash/
https://jacksonholepress.com/man-leads-troopers-on-high-speed-chase-crashes-dies/