GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Highway Patrol and Wyoming Department of Transportation have confirmed an additional fatality in Friday’s Green River tunnel crash on Interstate 80, raising the confirmed total to three. Debris removal is still ongoing and additional information will be provided as more sections of the tunnel are cleared.
The WHP is reporting this new fatality as first responders have worked approximately halfway through the debris, which they estimate is near the middle of the 1,200-foot tunnel. In just the last day, responders have removed four destroyed passenger vehicles and nine commercial vehicles.
Previous WYDOT releases confirmed the crash took place at 11:37 a.m. on Valentine’s Day at mile marker 90.2. Neither agency has confirmed the identities of any of the fatalities discovered.
WYDOT estimates that 26 vehicles in total were involved in the deadly crash. The agency has also contracted DeBernardi Construction to place concrete barriers to better control the flow of traffic as it is detoured around the tunnels. The new route is expected to be operational this Wednesday.
“Thank you to the community of Green River for your support in keeping traffic moving during this thorough and complicated investigation,” WYDOT District Engineer John Eddins said. “We know that the detoured traffic was very impactful to your community this weekend, and we will continue to work to minimize impacts.”
According to previous statements from WYDOT, emergency rescue efforts have been delayed by electrical equipment failures and fires within the tunnel. The westbound tunnel, where the crash occurred, does not seem at risk of collapse, though.
More information will be provided as it becomes available and as crews make progress clearing the tunnel. See Oil City News’s previous reporting for more information.
