(Green River, WY) – A driver eluding law enforcement on November 3rd was killed after colliding with a commercial vehicle at a high rate of speed.
Approximately 83 pounds of suspected marijuana was located in the vehicle, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol press release.
WHP troopers conducted a traffic stop at milepost 80 on I-80 near Green River for a traffic infraction. After conversing with the troopers for a short time, the driver jumped back into the vehicle to flee.
The troopers were unsuccessful in their attempts to stop the driver from leaving, and pursued the vehicle as the driver fled east on I-80 towards Rock Springs – reaching speeds over 120 mph.
Law enforcement successfully deployed spike strips around milepost 97 on I-80 to deflate the vehicle’s tires. The driver continued to evade troopers and eventually exited the interstate where they collided with the back of a belly dump combination commercial vehicle at a high rate of speed.
The driver was pronounced deceased from injuries sustained in the crash. Their name is being withheld at this time pending next of kin notification.
The driver of the commercial vehicle was not injured in the crash.
The investigation is still ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.