21-Year-Olds and Their Baby Killed in Head-On Crash Near Laramie

A young Laramie couple and their baby were killed in a head-on crash Saturday afternoon west of Laramie, the Wyoming Highway Patrol says.

The crash happened around 2:18 p.m. near mile marker 8.5 on Wyoming 130 (Snowy Range Road).

Get our free mobile app

According to a fatality crash summary, 21-year-old Joshua Madaris was behind the wheel of an eastbound Jeep with an SUV about 100 yards behind him when he attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him and collided head-on with an oncoming pickup that was towing a gooseneck horse trailer loaded with four horses.

The impact caused the horse trailer to come loose from the pickup, and the horse trailer slid across the centerline into the eastbound lane, hitting the SUV's front bumper area.

The Jeep and the pickup came to an uncontrolled rest in the north ditch, the SUV came to rest partially blocking the eastbound lane, and the horse trailer tipped onto its side in the south ditch, the summary says.

Despite being buckled up, Madaris, his girlfriend, 21-year-old Haylee Reney, and their baby boy, Ace, didn't survive the crash.

The summary lists the three as Florida residents, but according to the couple's Facebook pages, they were living in Laramie.

The crash also reportedly left one of the horses dead and three of the four other people involved injured.

Driver inattention is listed as a possible contributing factor.

GoFundMe Page Set Up to Help Madaris Family

According to a GoFundMe page created by Angi Bourquin, a cousin of Madaris' father Rickey Madaris, Rickey has now lost two of his three sons to car accidents.

"Rickey lost his oldest son, Branden to a car accident as well, 21 years ago," the page reads. "As a parent, we should not have to experience the loss of a child let alone 2 and a grandchild."

As of noon Tuesday, the page had raised $3,610 of its $4,000 goal.

Those wishing to help the Madaris family can do so by clicking here.

Meal Train for the Reney Family

A Meal Train page has also been set up for the Reney family.

"There are no words that can be expressed in light of a tragedy of this magnitude but your love, prayers, and support are much appreciated by the family," the page reads.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the First Christian Church at 2130 E. Garfield St. in Laramie, and a reception will be held immediately following at the VFW next door.

If you’d like to help with food for the reception or have questions about that, feel free to reach out to Trinity Thatcher at 307-760-0033.

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