Update 6 p.m.: Interstate 80 has reopened after the eastbound lanes had been closed at Rawlins most of Saturday. This story has been updated with the latest information available.
Update 5:30 p.m.: The Wyoming Department of Transportation has lifted most of the closure notices for eastbound I-80, but the highway remains closed between Rawlins and exit 235 at Walcott Junction. Also, part of the reason for the closure is for fire crews to put out grass fires started by the crash. This story has been updated to reflect the latest information available.
Update 3:10 p.m.: The Wyoming Highway Patrol confirms one person died when two semitrailers collided Saturday morning and one became engulfed in flames. This story has been updated to reflect the latest information available.
Eastbound Interstate 80 at Rawlins has reopened after being closed for more eight hours Saturday after a fiery and fatal crash involving two semitrailers. The crash backed up traffic for miles and kept a host of University of Wyoming football fans from the team’s home opener.
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Not much information about the crash has been available, but what has been reported is that it happened about 9:30 a.m. Saturday at about milepost 223 and had the interstate’s eastbound lanes under a rolling closure from exit 111 west of Rawlins and a full closure through exit 235 at Walcott Junction for most of the day, the Wyoming Department of Transportation reports.
As of 6 p.m., the last of the closures had been dropped and eastbound I-80 was open again.
Along with cleaning up the wreckage, the highway closure was extended because crews were also working to put out grass fires along the interstate caused by the crash, the Wyoming Department of Transportation reports.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash, which killed an occupant of one of the trucks, WHP Trooper Jason Simmer told Cowboy State Daily.
After they collided, one of the commercial vehicles “was engulfed by fire,” according to a WHP report.
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“Crews are working diligently to reopen the roadway; however, due to the heavy damage to the vechicles, it’s taking time to remove them safely from the highway,” the WHP report said.
That information corroborates what another WHP officer told Cody Lane at the Stinker I-80 Travel Plaza near Sinclair, where many of the stranded drivers waited for the highway to reopen.
“The Highway Patrol said there was at least one fatality, and that was all he was authorized to give out,” said Lane, an attendant at the truck stop.
A call to the Carbon County Coroner’s Office for more information about the crash fatality wasn’t returned.
Hurry Up And Wait
Lane said he’s used I-80 being closed for one reason or another, but it’s usually during winter for weather-related reasons.
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“Honestly, we’re not too busy right now,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “Mostly the travelers come in and ask if there’s another way around. The last time the Highway Patrol was in here he said it’s going to be another three hours.”
He said travelers have reported various details about what they observed driving past the crash scene, but much of it is conflicting.
For example, Lane said he’s been told the crash may involve two semis, while another motorist said it looked like a semi had hit a smaller parked car.
“We don’t really know. We just know there was a big-old fire,” Lane said, adding he climbed on top of the truck stop to get a better view. “There was a big-old bunch of black smoke.”
Those who stuck around around and waited for the highway to reopen got a little hungry as the time passed, Lane said.
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“They’re buying mostly snacks, like Cheez-Its, meat sticks, Gatorade and other snacky stuff,” he said.
Many of those waiting were UW Cowboys fans, he said, who had to listen to the game on the radio or try to stream a broadcast. The Cowboys lost 17-13 to the University of Idaho.
“Most of the travelers, yes, they say they were on the way to the game,” he said.
Others reported being stuck for hours in the bumper-to-bumper wall of semitrucks and other vehicles, posting their experiences to the popular Wyoming Road and Weather Conditiuons Reports Updates Facebook page.
“My kids have bene stuck out there for over six hours,” posted Robin Britt-Layton. “Thankfully they don’t ahve the babies with them.”
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One of those who couldn’t get to the UW game was Lauri Shoopman, who posted that, “We tried getting to Ft. Steele every which way, didn’t happen. We just came home instead of traveling to the game.”
“I’m so glad I’m not stuck there anymore,” added Kellie Whitzel. “Two and a half hours was long enough.”
Jennifer Nelsen of Green River showed her relief when she posted “Finally!!!!” after waiting for hours for traffic to start moving.
Eastbound Interstate 80 at milepost 223 is closed after two semitrailers crashed Saturday morning. (Wyoming High Patrol)
This screenshot from a WYDOT webcam at the exit just east of Sinclair, Wyoming, shows a long line of cars waiting for the highway to reopen. (WYDOT)
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails has officially released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for professional appraisal services to evaluate concession facilities at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
These appraisals are mandated by 2026 Senate Enrolled Act 27, Section 335, which requires appraisals of the “capital investment” and “ongoing concern” for the businesses known as the Star Plunge and the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa.
Qualified professional appraisers are encouraged to review the full requirements. Proposals must be submitted through the State’s Public Purchase online bidding system by 2:00 p.m., May 18, 2026. To view the full RFP (Number 0270-M), please visit https://www.publicpurchase.com/gems/wyominggsd,wy/buyer/public/home.
For additional information, contact Wyoming State Parks’ Visitor Services Manager Stephanie Dillmon at (307) 777-5734 or by email at Stephanie.Dillmon2@wyo.gov or learn more about Wyoming State Parks at wyoparks.wyo.gov.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
