Broadus Teen Fatally Struck While Assisting Driver in Wyoming

A tragic accident near Laramie, Wyoming, claimed the life of 18-year-old Riggin Cole Schaffer, a Broadus native, on March 23, 2025, Billings Gazette reports.

Schaffer was struck by a passing vehicle while attempting to help a driver involved in an earlier crash.

According to a statement from the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), the incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Wyoming Highway 130, west of Laramie.

That night, Nathan Geertz O’Leary, also 18, was driving eastbound when he lost control of his pickup truck near mile marker 22, hitting two guardrails before coming to a stop in the westbound lane. WHP reports indicate that O’Leary was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Schaffer, who was also traveling east on Highway 130, stopped to assist O’Leary. While standing on the driver’s side of the crashed pickup, he was struck by a westbound vehicle driven by a 49-year-old man from Centennial, Wyoming. Authorities say the cloudy and overcast conditions that night, along with occasional flurries, may have contributed to reduced visibility for the driver.

Emergency responders pronounced Schaffer dead at the scene. O’Leary was transported to a Laramie hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, O’Leary was cited for:

• Driving under the influence (DUI)

• Minor in possession of alcohol

• Open container violation

• Failure to maintain a single lane

The Albany County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case for potential additional charges against O’Leary. Officials have stated that no impairment was suspected on the part of the driver who struck Schaffer.

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Laramie Fire Department, and Centennial Volunteer Fire Department assisted WHP in investigating the crash.

Schaffer was a student at WyoTech in Laramie. His funeral service was held earlier this month in Broadus, where family and friends gathered to remember his kindness and willingness to help others.

In response to his passing, a fundraiser has been launched to support his family.