◆ Motorcycle and rider thrown over steep embankment.

A motorcycle accident near the base of the Salt River Summit on U.S. Highway 89, Sunday evening has claimed the life of an Idaho man.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol released the following report on the incident:

On July 31, 2022, a fatal crash occurred at milepost 72 on US 89 south of Afton, Wyoming. Around 5:58 p.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a motorcycle collision.

A 2018 Harley Davidson was headed south on US 89 when the driver failed to negotiate a curve to the left. The Harley exited the right side of the roadway and collided with a guardrail. The collision caused the driver of the Harley to be thrown from the motorcycle and down a steep embankment.

The driver of the Harley has been identified as 63-year-old Montpelier, Idaho resident Walter A. Castillo. Castillo was not wearing a helmet and succumbed to injuries at the crash scene.

Alcohol use is being investigated as a possible contributing factor.

This is the 56th fatality on Wyoming’s roadways in 2022 compared to 60 in 2021, 64 in 2020, and 96 in 2019 to date.