Wyoming Driver Dead After Being Hit by Passing Pickup
An 80-year-old Wyoming man is dead following a two-vehicle crash in Goshen County, the Wyoming Highway Patrol says.
The crash happened around 9:26 a.m. on Thursday, July 24, at milepost 33 on U.S. 26 near Pony Soldier RV Park between Lingle and Fort Laramie.
According to a fatality crash summary, Gerald Kruizinga was headed east on U.S. 26 in a Mercury Sable with a Ford F-150 behind him when he began to make a left-hand turn onto Road 23 and the pickup driver began to pass him, hitting Kruizinga's back left passenger door.
"The Mercury spun counterclockwise 180 degrees and rolled backwards into the ditch," the summary reads. "The (Ford) entered the ditch on the north side of the roadway and rotated clockwise 90 degrees, rolled 1/4 times, coming to an uncontrolled stop on the driver’s side."
Sadly, Kruizinga, who was not wearing his seat belt, didn't survive his injuries.
The pickup driver was also reportedly injured in the crash, but the Patrol didn't say to what extent.
Driver Inattention Possibly to Blame
The summary lists driver inattention as a possible contributing factor.
There have been 70 reported fatal crashes in Wyoming this year, resulting in 78 deaths.
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Gallery Credit: Scott Clow
Road Fatalities: Most Dangerous Time, Day, and Month by State
Gallery Credit: Scott Clow