Multiple-Car Accident Shuts down I-80
Laramie County, WY – UPDATE Ten:50PM: thirty three commercial vehicles and twelve passenger vehicles is the latest estimate that were involved in one of the three crash sequences along with numerous other vehicles that were not part of an actual crash, but became stranded in the event due to road blockage. Sixteen motorists were transported by ambulance and eleven motorists were transported by a Laramie County School District bus to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Six of those injured were critical to serious gam or spine injuries. No fatalities were reported from this event.
Speeds too rapid for the blizzard conditions and loss of control are being investigated as contributing factors in the crashes that caused a “domino” style chain reaction after the very first duo of vehicles lost control.
Agencies that responded were the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Laramie County Fire Districts 1, Two, and Ten, AMR Ambulance, F.E. Warren Very first Responders, Wyoming National Guard Very first Responders, City of Laramie Fire Department, WYDOT and numerous tow companies from Cheyenne and Laramie. Joint training inbetween all of these agencies and their dispatchers was credited for the rapid response, extrication, treatment and transport of those injured in the event.
Interstate eighty inbetween Cheyenne and Laramie is expected to remain closed into tonight and possibly through the early morning hours of tomorrow (April 17th) as the investigation and cleanup resumes through the evening. Weather will hold a strong determining factor for the investigators and cleanup crews as to when I eighty will be ready to reopen. Again, we ask motorists at the road closed gates in Cheyenne and Laramie to please be patient and check for updates at www.wyoroad.info or by calling 1-888-WYO-ROAD (1-888-996-7623)
UPDATE: Five:15pm: According to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, they have treated twenty five patients from the multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 80. In partnership with the American Crimson Cross, CRMC is also providing food, blankets and other assistance to people who were transported here without injuries. The hospital’s Incident Directive Center is now closed down.
UPDATE Trio:45PM: The latest update from Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. CRMC has treated eleven patients who have been transported from the accident on Interstate 80. A bus transporting up to eleven extra people is also en route to Cheyenne Regional’s emergency department. The hospital is also expecting the arrival of a bus transporting up to twenty people who were stranded on the interstate but who are not injured. At this time, we don’t have information on patient conditions. The American Crimson Cross is sending volunteers to the hospital to help those in need of shelter, food and other assistance. An American Crimson Cross phone number that community members can call will be set up and available within the next thirty to forty minutes.
Three major vehicle pileups near mile post three hundred forty two on Interstate eighty on both the east and westbound sides presently have I eighty closed inbetween Cheyenne and Laramie. Blizzard conditions were present at the time of the crashes that involved approximately forty – fifty commercial vehicles and twenty passengers vehicles inbetween the three pileups.
Numerous agencies from two counties have responded to assist in tending to the injured and assisting Patrol with the investigations. No fatalities have been reported at the time of this release but numerous injuries have been confirmed.
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center has also activated its Incident Instruction Center in response to this multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 80.