MEETEETSE, Wyo. — Driver fatigue was cited as the primary cause of a fatal collision between two cars near Meeteetse on Sunday, April 6. Of the three people involved in the crash between two cars, one was killed.
The incident occurred along Wyoming Highway 120, the primary artery of travel through Meeteetse and the western edge of the Bighorn Basin. This particular crash, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, happened at milepost 38.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol, which was the responding agency to the crash, reported that around 8:43 p.m. Sunday, a Subaru Impreza was heading north along the road when driver fatigue and inattention caused the driver to inadvertently drift into the southbound lane. A Chevy Silverado was simultaneously driving south while hauling a car on a trailer.
The Silverado, with car in tow, swerved to avoid the oncoming Impreza, but the two vehicles ended up colliding head-on. The Chevy and attached trailer ended up rolling off the east side of the road — the side of the road opposite the direction it was originally heading.
The fatality was identified as 64-year-old Sandra Swallow. The Wyoming Department of Transportation did not identify which vehicle she was in, but noted that she was driving one of the vehicles. The other vehicle’s driver and the passenger involved — who was also not identified as being in either vehicle — were left injured. Swallow was a resident of Montana.
Other possible contributing factors separate from driver inattention such as inclement weather and unsafe road conditions were not considered applicable to the crash; roads were dry and the sky was clear. Seat belts were also in use by all individuals involved.
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.
