Nine-vehicle pileup closes interstate
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EVANSTON — A nine-vehicle pileup on westbound Interstate 80 at mile marker 27 near Evanston Wednesday morning shut down lanes for close to seven hours. The initial crash that led to the pileup occurred just before 10 a.m., after a semi-truck hauling irrigation pipe was driving too fast for the winter conditions, said Wyoming Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeremy Beck. The Wyoming Department of Transportation issued a notice that I-80 was closed in both directions by 9:55 a.m.
Beck said the semi hauling irrigation pipe crashed, and a semi behind it hauling pallets of Bud Light was able to stop in time without causing more damage; however, a third semi wasn’t able to stop and “ping-ponged” into the other semis and other vehicles in the area. Beck said the drivers of both that semi and the semi hauling pipe were cited for driving too fast for conditions.
Of the nine vehicles involved, seven were semis and two were passenger vehicles. Beck said four people were transported by ambulance to Evanston Regional Hospital, three of whom were treated for minor injuries; the fourth was an uninjured baby who was transported with her mother.
While driving too fast for conditions is believed to be the cause of the incident, Beck said WHP is still investigating the crash. Both lanes were opened around 4:30 p.m. Beck said that around the same time, there were two other accidents further east on I-80 but no serious injuries were reported.