The Wyoming Highway Patrol believes driver inattention may be to blame for a fiery crash on Interstate 80 that killed one person and injured two others.
The crash occurred around 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, near mile marker 274, just east of Arlington.
Semi Catches Fire After Rear-Ending, Knocking Over Parked Semi
According to the fatality crash summary, a Freightliner combination unit was parked in the emergency lane when it was rear-ended by an eastbound Volvo combination unit, causing it to roll onto its passenger side.
The Volvo then passed the Freightliner before veering off the right side of the interstate and catching fire.
The crash injured both semi drivers and killed a passenger, 55-year-old Missouri resident Ralph Pimentel III.
It’s unclear whether Pimentel was wearing a seat belt.
Wyoming Records 7th Commercial Vehicle Fatality
There have been 79 reported fatal crashes in Wyoming this year, resulting in 87 deaths. Of those deaths, seven were in commercial vehicles.
