CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Two adults and one juvenile are dead after a crash in Niobrara County, Wyo.
According to a release from the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), the crash happened at milepost 159 on US Highway 85 about nine miles north of Lusk, Wyo.
Authorities say at approximately 11:21 P.M. on May 1, 2026, troopers with the Wyoming Highway Patrol were alerted to a crash between a pickup and a semi truck.
When troopers arrived, they found a 2021 Freightliner Cascadia semi truck was pulling out of the northbound turnabout parking area at mile marker 159. WHP said the driver of the semi truck told troopers that during the turn his transmission failed and the clutch slipped back into neutral.
Unable to shift, the driver attempted a U-turn in order to move the vehicle into the southbound turnabout parking area. The truck came to a stop.
But the front bumper of the semi was in the southbound turnabout, the rear of the trailer was in the northbound turnabout, and the trailer itself was blocking both lanes of travel on the highway.
WHP said as this was happening, a 1995 Ford F-250 pickup with a camper on the bed was northbound on US 85.
The semi driver of the Freightliner stated he opened his door and waved at the truck, trying to get the Ford driver’s attention but was unsuccessful. The F-250 struck the trailer of the Freightliner “at what is estimated to be close to highway speeds,” according to the WHP release.
The truck and camper combination had a total of five occupants, three of whom died on scene, while two were injured.
The driver of the F-250, identified as Craig Gates, 67, of Littleton, Colo., the front seat passenger, Donna Gates, 68, also of Littleton, Colo, and a 10-year-old girl who had been in the sleeping area above the cab of the truck died on scene.
Craig and Donna Gates were both wearing seatbelts, however, the young girl in the sleeping area was unsecured and was ejected during the crash.
Two occupants, both riding unsecured in the camper, were injured. An adult woman, Brandy Cline, 42, of Akron, Colo., was taken by helicopter to Scottsbluff, Neb., and hospitalized. An 11-year-old girl was flown by helicopter to Loveland, Colo. and was also hospitalized.
The driver of the semi truck was not injured.
At this time it is unknown why the truck did not slow down sooner before the impact. Possible equipment failure – the transmission of the semi-truck – are being investigated as possible contributing factors in the crash.
With this crash, the total deaths on Wyoming roadways in 2026 stands at 38. This is compared to 31 in 2025 and 26 in 2024.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
