A fatal crash on eastbound Interstate 80, which caused an eight-hour closure on Saturday, occurred when a semi-truck hit another truck parked on the shoulder, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol WHP.
The accident happened just before 9:40 a.m. near mile marker 223 close to Rawlins. WHP troopers arrived to find one truck on fire and debris scattered across both lanes, Trooper Ryan Gerdes said in a Monday press release.
A red 2022 Freightliner crossed the right line and hit the back of a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder, the release stated. The Freightliner jackknifed, skidding across the lanes and blocking both.
The Freightliner caught fire, and the driver tragically died from their injuries.
Carbon County Coroner Brittany Nyman confirmed the driver has been identified, but they are waiting to notify the family before releasing the name.
Though no hazardous materials were involved in this crash, crews had to assume there could be, especially since the truck was on fire, Gerdes said.
The highway was closed for miles, but by 6 p.m., I-80 was reopened. Cleanup took extra time as crews also worked to extinguish grass fires along the interstate caused by the crash, the Wyoming Department of Transportation said.