One man is dead and another hospitalized after a fiery crash involving a semi-truck on Highway 287 south of Laramie.
According to a news release issued by the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), on June 15, at approximately 4 a.m., WHP troopers were alerted to a semi truck that had flipped and was on fire. Troopers arrived to find a 2020 Hino commercial vehicle had been northbound near mile marker 413 on Highway 287 when it crossed into the southbound lane, then veered off the roadway to the left.
The vehicle struck a guardrail leading up to a bridge, its left tires crossing the guardrail and riding it, with half the vehicle on either side of the railing, according to WHP’s release. A piece of the guard rail became lodged in the right fuel tank before the vehicle rolled off the bridge and onto its roof, partially blocking the railroad tracks below. Police say the vehicle then quickly caught fire.
The driver, Roberto Gavidia, 43, of Centennial, Colorado, died at the scene of the crash. The passenger in the vehicle was able to escape and was transported by ambulance to Ivinson Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released.
Driver fatigue is believed to be the primary cause in this deadly crash. With this crash, there have been 50 fatalities on Wyoming roadways in 2026, compared to 46 in 2025 and 39 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.
