CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A man is facing a slew of charges following a high-speed, head-on collision that seriously injured two people, including a woman who suffered a broken back and may never walk again.
According to authorities, Justin Latham, 29, was intoxicated and driving his BMW at 75-80 mph when he collided with a Hyundai Kona, sending it 900 feet away.
Latham was charged on July 25 with serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment by conduct, speeding, destruction of property worth more than $1,000, and DUI with a child passenger.
He is presumed innocent unless he pleads or is found guilty.
According to a court affidavit, a Laramie County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the 5600 block of East Pershing Boulevard for a reported hit-and-run.
Authorities discovered a two-vehicle crash involving a BMW and a Hyundai Kona. The Kona had traveled about 900 feet from the point of impact, through a yard, and collided with a Spectrum electrical box, two posts, and a fence.
A witness told deputies that Latham’s BMW was speeding west in the eastbound lane when it collided with the Kona.
The Kona was traveling east at approximately 40 mph. According to a preliminary report from the crash investigation team, the BMW was traveling at approximately 75-80 mph at the time of the accident.
Deputies discovered Latham conscious and breathing next to the driver’s side door of his BMW. The deputy observed that Latham had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and difficulty answering basic questions.
He was also seen giggling and believing he was at a previous military duty station, which he had left two months before, according to the court document.
Latham’s young daughter was a passenger in his vehicle when it collided. She was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and treated for minor injuries before being released to a family friend.
The occupants of the Kona were discovered still inside the vehicle. The driver reported losing consciousness and not remembering the collision, and he suffered a large laceration on his head.
His passenger reported that she couldn’t feel her legs and needed to be extricated by the fire department. She was later airlifted to a Colorado hospital with a broken back. Medical personnel told authorities that it was too early to say whether she would regain use of her legs.
Latham was evaluated by medical personnel on the scene and transported to CRMC. A preliminary breath test performed at the hospital revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.371.
Approximately seven hours later, a second breath test at the Laramie County Detention Center revealed a BAC of 0.223. Blood test results from the Wyoming State Crime Lab were pending when the affidavit was filed.
