Trucker Killed in New Year's Eve Rollover in Northeastern Wyoming

A 47-year-old trucker is dead after rolling his rig in northeastern Wyoming's Campbell County, officials say.

The crash happened around 3:02 p.m. on New Year's Eve at milepost 2.16 on Edwards Road, south of Wright.

Get our free mobile app

According to a fatality crash summary released Tuesday by the Wyoming Highway Patrol, William Ryder was behind the wheel of a westbound Volvo combination unit negotiating a curve when his passenger side tires left the roadway.

Ryder was reportedly unable to steer the truck back onto the roadway, and the truck tripped and turned over onto its passenger side.

Ryder was not wearing his seat belt and died from his injuries.

The summary says it was clear and the road was dry at the time of the crash, but it does not list any possible contributing factors.

Ryder's death brings the total number of people killed on Wyoming's highways in 2023 to 144.

LOOK: Most dangerous states to drive in

Stacker used the Federal Highway Administration's 2020 Highway Statistics report to rank states by the fatalities per billion miles traveled.

Gallery Credit: Katherine Gallagher

What States Do Truckers Say Have the Worst Drivers?

Truck drivers say these states have the most difficult drivers.

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.

Gallery Credit: Joy Greenwald