Wyoming’s Highways Are Deadlier This Year — Here’s What the Patrol’s Data Shows

Wyoming is on a rough stretch. The Highway Patrol has logged 84 fatal crashes so far this year — ahead of the pace at this point last year, when there were 76. For context, the full-year totals were 107 in 2023, 93 in 2022 and 86 in 2021, so the trend line isn’t headed the right way.

The calendar tells a story, too. July was the worst month, with April, June and May close behind. And before anyone blames the weather, troopers say the roads were dry in 62 of those deadly wrecks. The common denominators are far more familiar: speed and driver inattention.

Geography matters. Sweetwater County has seen the most fatal crashes this year with 12. Laramie, Carbon and Natrona counties follow — a reminder that the danger isn’t confined to one corridor or community. Nearly half of the people who died were passengers, according to Highway Patrol crash reports. Two of the fatal crashes involved ATVs, eleven involved motorcyclists, and six involved commercial vehicles.

The through line is painfully simple: most of these tragedies were preventable. If you need a nudge before you turn the key, remember the little mantras troopers repeat on the shoulder — arrive alive, don’t text and drive. Better late than never; your safety comes first. Drive like every child on that street is your own, and keep in mind that getting there safely is as important as getting there at all.

The original story by Kolby Fedore for K2 Radio.