CASPER, Wyo. — A Wyoming man died in a single-vehicle rollover last week on state Highway 159 north of Torrington.
A crashed Toyota RAV4 was seen in a field near the highway junction with Buttermilk Road (County Road 47 D) sometime after 3 a.m. Monday, Dec. 30, according to preliminary information in a Wyoming Highway Patrol report.
The report notes that speed and driver inattention may have caused the RAV4 to leave the curving roadway at the junction, which is marked with signs warning of the sharp curve and suggesting a 40 mph exit speed.
The vehicle reportedly went between the roadways, collided with an earthen embankment and vaulted Highway 159 around mile marker 3.6, becoming airborne. “The Toyota remained airborne as it entered a field, and after impacting the ground, it pitched forward and began to roll end over end,” the report said.
89-year-old Melvin White was identified as the driver. The report indicates a seat belt was not in use. The report notes that the crash time is an estimate, and road conditions may have been wet at the time.
The WHP notes 108 roadway fatalities for the year 2024, compared to:
- 144 in 2023
- 134 in 2022
- 111 in 2021
This story contains preliminary information as provided by the Wyoming Highway Patrol via the Wyoming Department of Transportation Fatal Crash Summary map. The agency advises that information may be subject to change.
