On February 7, 2019, a fatal crash occurred at milepost 5 on Wyoming 120 west of Thermopolis, Wyoming. Around 3:20 p.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the area for a two-vehicle collision.
A 2014 Ford F-550 was traveling southbound on WY-120 when a northbound 2011 Honda Pilot attempted to turn into a driveway on the west side of the road causing both vehicles to collide.
The driver of the Honda Pilot has been identified as 37-year-old Thermopolis, Wyoming resident Candis Peterson. Peterson was wearing her seatbelt but succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the crash. The juvenile passenger in the Honda was transported to the Hot Springs Memorial Hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
The driver of the Ford has been identified as 61-year-old Billings, Montana resident Larry Houlihan. Houlihan was wearing his seatbelt but was transported to the Hot Springs Memorial Hospital for injuries sustained from the crash.
Driver inattention is being investigated on the part of Peterson as contributing factors.
This is the 16th fatality on Wyoming’s highways in 2019 compared to 8 in 2018, 9 in 2017, and 6 in 2016 to date.