GILLETTE, Wyo. — A man accused of severely injuring a motorist while driving drunk on Highway 59 earlier this year will stand for a jury trial in December, Campbell County court records say.
Michael C. Stroud is charged with felony DWUI with serious bodily injury and reckless driving after allegedly crashing his Dodge pickup into a Ford F-150 while navigating a Highway 59 construction zone in June, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.
Court documents state the alleged crash occurred shortly before 3:45 p.m. June 19 and resulted in a then-17-year-old boy’s hospitalization for head injuries. Stroud reportedly lost control of his vehicle while passing another motorist and crashed into the teen, who was driving the Ford.
Stroud’s vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage while the Ford overturned. When deputies arrived, the boy was lying on the ground, surrounded by witnesses who identified Stroud as the driver of the Dodge, according to the affidavit.
While speaking with Stroud, a deputy could smell alcohol coming from Stroud’s facial region. He allegedly admitted to consuming two alcoholic drinks earlier in the day while playing golf in Wright, the affidavit states.
The boy reportedly lost consciousness after pulling himself from the wreckage and was taken to the hospital by Emergency Medical Services for a suspected concussion. Stroud was taken into custody after allegedly failing field sobriety tests, per the affidavit, which says his blood alcohol content was 0.20% at the time of the crash.
Felony DWUI with serious bodily injury is punishable by up to seven years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both. Reckless driving, a misdemeanor, is punishable by up to six months in prison, a $750 fine or both, per Wyoming State Statute.