Wyoming Sisters Killed After Pickup Spins Out, Hit by Semi

Two Powell, Wyoming sisters were killed Friday after the pickup they were traveling in spun out and was hit by an oncoming semi, the Highway Patrol says.

The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. near mile marker 14 on U.S. 14A, between Cody and Powell.

Wyoming Highway Patrol

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According to a fatality crash summary, 22-year-old Shannah Nelson and 20-year-old Wendy Nelson were traveling east in a Chevrolet Silverado when Shannah, who was behind the wheel, lost control of the pickup on an ice-covered bridge deck.

"The Silverado started spinning in a counterclockwise direction across all five highway lanes and into the path of the oncoming tractor-trailer," the summary reads. "The Silverado impacted the front of the tractor-trailer with the tailgate area, causing severe damage to the pickup truck."

Shannah and Wendy, neither of whom was wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The trucker was not injured in the crash.

Speed is listed as a possible contributing factor.

The sisters are the 24th and 25th reported people to die on Wyoming's highways in 2023 compared to 12 in 2022, 17 in 2021, seven in 2020, and 18 in 2019 to date.

According to their obituaries (see below), Shannah loved God and her family and was passionate about her horses and cattle, and Wendy loved working with and riding horses and really enjoyed baking for her family and her mom’s restaurant, Rest Awhile Cafe.

OBITUARIES

Shannah Ruth Nelson
Wendy Michelle Nelson

Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, March 2, at 10 a.m. at the New Life Church in Powell.

2022's Deadliest Wyoming County by Traffic Deaths

While car crashes can occur anywhere, some roads in Wyoming are more dangerous than others.

According to Wyoming Highway Patrol data, there were 117 fatal crashes in the Cowboy State in 2022 resulting in 133 deaths.

Of those fatal crashes, the majority (13.68%) occurred in Laramie County -- two in January, one in February, one in March, two in April, one in June, two in July, three in August, two in September, one in November, and one in December.

Sweetwater County saw the second most fatal crashes last year, 12, while Fremont and Lincoln counties each saw 10.

Albany and Park counties each recorded eight, and Campbell, Converse, and Natrona counties each tallied seven.

The deadliest 2022 crash in Laramie County took place on June 17 when two semis collided on Interstate 80 east of Cheyenne and immediately became engulfed in flames killing both drivers and a passenger.

Laramie County also saw two fatal crashes involving motorcyclists, two fatal crashes involving juveniles, and a fatal crash involving a pedestrian last year.

Below is the Wyoming Highway Patrol narrative of every fatal crash that occurred in Laramie County in 2022.