A serious head-on collision occurred Saturday between Etna and Alpine. SVI News reports that there was one fatality and several injuries.
According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), the incident took place around 9:30 pm. A white pickup truck traveling from Alpine to Etna entered the opposite northbound lane. A Ford Expedition heading northbound towards Jackson attempted to avoid the oncoming vehicle by veering left. The pickup’s driver suddenly swerved back into the correct lane, resulting in a head-on collision.
Injured transported by air
Fortunately, all six occupants of the Ford Expedition, who were part of a lacrosse team from Jackson, survived the crash. One of them, the driver, was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, while another passenger was transported to a medical facility in Salt Lake City. The injuries sustained ranged from a punctured foot to potentially severe spinal trauma, as reported by the WHP.
Tragically, the driver of the white pickup, identified as Forrest Jensen, aged 31, was found dead at the scene. It was determined that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Witnesses who were driving on the highway reported to the WHP that they were traveling at the speed limit of 65 miles per hour and were overtaken by the speeding pickup. The estimated impact speed of the collision is believed to be between 70 and 75 miles per hour. Prior to the crash, witnesses also observed the pickup swerving multiple times.
Wyoming Highway Patrol investigating
The Wyoming Highway Patrol is currently investigating the incident to determine if any additional factors contributed to the collision.
This tragic event marks the 47th fatality on Wyoming roadways in 2023, according to the WHP website. This figure is higher than the totals for both 2022 and 2021, which recorded 32 fatalities each.
Emergency services from Alpine EMS, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies promptly responded to the scene of the crash.
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