Highway Crash Kills Newcastle Woman

A fatal crash on Monday has resulted in the death of 57-year-old Newcastle, Wyoming resident Tina M. Morris. The crash happened at 11:45 p.m. on the 25th on US Highway 16 near the city limits of Osage, Wyoming.
Morris was a passenger in a sedan driven by 39-year-old Timothy J. Dawson, also from Newcastle.
The car was traveling east on US 16 when Dawson failed to see a herd of horses on the highway. He collided with four horses as no attempt was made to avoid them. The car veered to the right off the highway, crossed Wyoming State Highway 451, went over a hill and came to rest next to the Right-of-Way fence.
Neither Morris or Dawson were wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash. Morris died at the scene. Dawson was taken to Newcastle and was treated for minor injuries.
Dawson has been arrested and taken to the Weston County Jail in Newcastle. He has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while impaired, possession of marijuana, interference and driving with no license.
Drug use, speed and livestock on the highway are being investigated as contributing factors in this crash. Morris marked the fourth highway fatality in Wyoming for 2016. There were eight fatalities during this same time period in 2015.