A third victim was discovered Sunday following a catastrophic Wyoming tunnel crash involving 26 vehicles on Interstate 80 near Green River. The incident, which ignited a massive fire inside the tunnel, resulted in three confirmed fatalities, five severe injuries, and the destruction of eight vehicles. Federal and state investigators continue combing through snow-slowed wreckage to determine the cause.
Sgt. Jason Roascio of the Wyoming Highway Patrol emphasized the challenges:
We're hopeful this is the final fatality, but winter conditions are complicating recovery and analysis.Photos released Sunday revealed charred remnants of vehicles inside the westbound tunnel under Castle Rock, a critical artery for Wyoming’s cross-country traffic.
Key developments include:
- Six commercial and two passenger vehicles completely destroyed by fire
- Eastbound tunnel reopening Wednesday with temporary two-way traffic
- No estimated timeline for westbound tunnel repairs
The Interstate 80 accident has disrupted primary freight routes, rerouting travelers through Green River. Engineers caution that structural assessments are ongoing, with no clear date for restoring normal operations. The crash underscores longstanding safety concerns about aging infrastructure handling high-volume commercial traffic amid Wyoming’s harsh weather.
As recovery teams work through lingering snowstorms, officials urge drivers to avoid non-essential travel through southwestern Wyoming. Future updates will address both investigative findings and proposed tunnel safety enhancements to prevent similar disasters.