20-vehicle pileup between Laramie and Sinclair on I-80 sends two to hospital

A 20-vehicle pileup on Interstate 80 between Laramie and Sinclair during a blizzard Wednesday sent two people to hospitals via air ambulance and shut down the highway in both directions, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

Multiple crashes were reported between mile markers 259 and 269, with the largest pileup occurring on a bridge near mile marker 259 eastbound around 9 a.m. I-80 remained closed in both directions between Laramie and Sinclair as of publication time.

Officials blamed ice, high winds and drivers unprepared for winter’s sudden return after an unusually mild season.

“We basically just had the longest November in history,” said WHP spokesman Aaron Brown. “Because of this, we got lulled into a false sense of security.”

A cold front brought 3 to 6 inches of snow to parts of Carbon and Albany counties—higher amounts than expected, said National Weather Service meteorologist Timothy Trudel. A high-wind warning remained in effect with gusts up to 100 mph possible in wind-prone areas.

“The winds are going to howl,” said Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day.

Brown emphasized that ice alone rarely causes major accidents; the danger comes when combined with improper driving. “We definitely need people to slow down and give more room to vehicles ahead of them.”

Rolling closures were implemented to prevent travelers from becoming stranded in small towns with limited resources like fuel and lodging. Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken advised drivers not to take alternate county roads to bypass the closures.

“Wyoming weather does not mess around,” Brown said. “When it hits, it hits hard.”