Chico Woman and Child Die in Wyoming Trucking Crash
Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) has reported that a Chico woman and child lost their lives during a car accident on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The accident happened on Highway Interstate 80 in Wyoming in the southwestern area of the state. The fatally injured woman was identified by officials of Sweetwater County as Shelly Dale Leon, a 50-year-old woman from Chico. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the fatally injured child. In addition to the two fatally injured people, four others suffered injuries ranging from minor to major in severity. I would like to extend my condolences and sympathy to those whose lives have been affected by this terrible car accident.
Crash Information
According to WHP, Leon had been a passenger in a 2002 Honda Odyssey that was driving east on I-80 at around 8:05 p.m. The driver of the vehicle lost control of the Honda when the car lost traction on the snow and ice covered highway. After the Odyssey lost traction, a Peterbilt tractor-trailer collided with its rear end. Officers say the big rig was driven by a 27-year-old resident of Lathrop, California. No other vehicles were reported to have been involved in this crash.
Response
Responding medical officers found that all six occupants of the minivan suffered trauma. Leon was discovered with severe injuries and was taken to the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. Tragically, she later passed away from her injuries at the hospital. A juvenile passenger who was not restrained in a child seat also sadly suffered fatal trauma and passed away at the crash scene.
Another child was found in the vehicle and flown by air ambulance to the University of Utah Hospital. The driver of the vehicle was found with serious injuries and was taken to a nearby trauma center. Two more Honda passengers were treated at the scene of the crash for minor injuries. The Peterbilt driver was reportedly not injured during the crash.
Investigation
After the crash took place, the eastbound side of the highway was closed for more than 4 hours while officers responded to and investigated the accident. Officers have stated that driving at unsafe speeds may have been a cause of the crash. However, the crash remains under investigation.
Calling an Attorney
After a fatal crash, people often deal with serious emotional issues. Feelings of grief can be overwhelming and many people want to delay calling a wrongful death lawyer for this reason. However, liable parties are usually quick to defend themselves. Trucking companies in particular almost always have legal teams ready in case one of their vehicles is involved in a crash. Because of this, contacting an attorney early on can be vital to your case. If you want to know more about finding a lawyer you can trust, see the below video:
More Articles from Chico Wrongful Death Lawyer Ed Smith
- Chico Accident Injures One Person
- How Can a Chico Personal Injury Lawyer Help?
- Major Injuries Suffered in Chico Car Accident
Chico Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico wrongful death lawyer. If a deadly vehicle collision has affected your family, get in touch with me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 so that we can speak personally and I can offer you free, friendly advice regarding your case.
My firm has been helping Chico residents with obtaining the payments they deserve for wrongful death cases since 1982. To get more information about my work, see my past settlements and verdicts and read some of my reviews on:
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