Slick roads and driving too fast for conditions were both factors in a crash involving three minors and a semi-truck hauling jet fuel on Tuesday morning. No major injuries were reported. 

According to information provided by the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), a Pontiac sedan driven by a 16-year old minor was traveling too fast for conditions when the vehicle began to fishtail. While traveling southbound the sedan then began to slide across US 89 into the northbound lane in the path of the semi truck.

“The northbound tanker truck attempted to avoid the sedan but had no real options,” stated Trooper Chad Ludwig.

The truck was pulling a typical fuel container and an additional “pup” trailer.

“They ended up colliding in the northbound lane and this caused the trailer and the pup to jackknife around the cab with the truck and the trailer on the southbound side,” Ludwig continued. “The sedan went off on the southbound side as well. The trailer blocked both lanes.”

The accident was reported at 9:38 a.m. at milepost 111.5 near the Nordic Ranches area. Due to the crash and the hazardous nature of the material being hauled, the cleanup consumed most of the daylight hours with wreckers coming to move the pieces into the late afternoon. 

Ludwig noted that the slick roads contributed to the crash but also perhaps contributed to the lack of major injuries.

“When the semi hit the road, there wasn’t any real asphalt to grip and that likely contributed to the occupants of the Pontiac from sustaining more major injuries,” he said. “Things slid across the ice instead.”

Ludwig also noted that the driver of the truck was able to steer the vehicle partially onto the side and move over enough to avoid a head-on collision.

A passenger who was in the sleeper portion of the cab was transported for a medical evaluation. The three minors in the sedan walked away from the scene with parents. 

Ludwig emphasized that the WHP routinely sees drivers who are driving 65 to 70 miles per hour despite poor road conditions.