(Lander, Wyo.) – Non-natural deaths in Fremont County, including accidental, suicide, motor vehicle and homicide deaths are all down substantially through the third quarter of the calendar year, according to Coroner Mark Stratmoen. That was the good news he reported to the county commissioners on Tuesday.
“Our total cases are down by 25 deaths over last year at this time,” Stratmoen said, “from 135 in 2017 to 110 so far in 2018.”
Stratmoen was referring to cases referred to the coroners office only. As a whole, he said there have been 263 recorded deaths through the end of September. Coroner cases represented 42 percent of the total deaths.
By the numbers
• The number of accidental deaths is 21, four less than that of the first three-quarters of 2017. he said seven of the accidental deaths were motor vehicle-related; six were the result of falls, and five were directly related to drug/alcohol toxicity. Of the fall deaths, Stratmoen said the median age was 83 with the deaths ranging in age from 72 to 91. “Other than awareness, as people get to be older they need to be more careful,” hesaid.
• The number of deaths by suicide is four, six less that at this time last year. “We are usually two to three times the national average, and it is good to finally be at the national average,” Stratmoen said.
• The number of deaths by homicide is two, six less than last year at this time. “Homicides are trending down and almost reflect that of the national average,” he said.
• There have been seven vehicular deaths so far in 2018, 10 less than the first three-quarters of 2017. All were accidental in manner. Stratmoen said local traffic fatalities are now below the national average.
Of the vehicular deaths, Stratmoen noted:
• Five of the deaths were drug and/or alcohol related
• There were three pedestrian deaths
• There was one motorcycle fatality
• Three of the victims in regular vehicle crashes were not wearing safety restraints where they were available.