A South Dakota man was killed and five others were injured Wednesday morning in a crash involving a pickup truck, four motorcycles and a Wyoming Department of Transportation vehicle near Wapiti.
According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 8:38 a.m. Aug. 12 on U.S. Highway 14/16/20 near mile marker 32.3, east of Wapiti.
Preliminary information released by the Wyoming Highway Patrol indicates a Ford pickup traveling eastbound failed to negotiate a curve and crossed into the westbound lane, where it struck the first two motorcycles in a group traveling toward Cody. Two additional motorcycles behind them then crashed while attempting to avoid the collision.
The pickup continued off the roadway, striking the tailgate of a WYDOT vehicle that had swerved to avoid the crash before coming to rest in a nearby field.
According to Oil City News, citing the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Terry Zaske, 48, of South Dakota, was killed in the crash. He was riding one of the motorcycles involved and was not wearing a helmet.
One injured person was flown directly to Billings for treatment, while another was transported by ambulance to Cody before being airlifted to Billings. Two additional people were taken by ambulance to Cody with non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released. Four people involved in the crash were not injured, including the driver of the WYDOT vehicle.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol reported that driver inattention and speed are being investigated as the primary contributing factors. Weather was not considered a factor in the crash.
The highway was closed for approximately five and a half hours while emergency responders assisted victims and investigators processed the scene before reopening shortly before 3 p.m.
The crash remains under investigation.