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Horse dies in multi-vehicle crash involving alcohol near Grover

The driver of the gray Ford was cited for DUI as part of response by law enforcement. (SVI Photo)

A multi-vehicle accident took place at mile marker 91 just north of Grover at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Friday evening. The incident included four vehicles, one of which was towing a horse trailer. The collisions resulted in the death of one horse and multiple minor injuries to those involved. 

According to information provided by the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), a gray Ford pickup was headed southbound when the driver failed to maintain his lane and crossed the center line and hit a white Ford pickup. The impact was described as a glancing head-on with the driver’s side headlights making impact. 

The impact ripped off the front driver’s side tires of both trucks and caused the gray Ford to flip over onto the driver’s side roof and rotate 180-degrees, coming to rest facing northbound. In this motion, it impacted an SUV on the vehicle’s driver side quarter panel. 

The damage to the white Ford pickup towing the horse trailer unfortunately resulted in the death of one animal. (SVI Photo)

The horse trailer being towed by the white Ford continued northbound and crossed the center line and left the roadway on the southbound shoulder. As it left the roadway, it clipped a fourth vehicle, a four-door sedan. 

The crash tore the entire side off the horse trailer, causing one horse to be thrown from the trailer and then dragged to where the truck came to rest which was well off the road. The animal was dead when responders arrived on scene. 

According to the WHP, minor injuries were reported and those individuals were treated and released. The debris field for the crash covered approximately 200 yards. Traffic was partially interrupted and diverted for just over an hour. 

Over the course of the response, the driver of the gray Ford, Stewart Jones, was given multiple citations including Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Occupants of the sedan were cited for failure to wear seatbelts.

Traffic was closed and diverted for just over an hour. (SVI Photo)

Star Valley EMS, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Afton Fire Department arrived on the scene. The responding WHP trooper, Mike Merritt, praised those organizations for their work and professionalism. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation for the DUI while the scene itself is still under investigation by the WHP. 

Merritt noted that this is the most dangerous time of the year for area drivers. 

“We are in the 100 deadliest days of summer,” he replied. “There is a ton of traffic and we would just ask everyone to please be patient. “There is no reason to speed to get somewhere 30 seconds earlier. Especially with construction in the area, your patience is appreciated.”

Multiple organizations responded to the scene to provide professional care and help. (SVI Photo)