Lack of Seat Belt Use Cited in Wyoming’s 115th Highway Fatality

OCTOBER 12, 2015 — A fatal crash on October 10th has resulted in the death of 21-year-old Cheyenne, Wyoming resident Ronald J. Cotton. The crash occurred around 6:00 a.m. on Wyoming State Highway 210 near mile post 13 approximately 13 miles west of Cheyenne.

Mr. Cotton was driving a 2005 GMC Sierra pickup truck eastbound on WY 210 when he failed to negotiate a slight right hand curve in the roadway and left the highway to the south. The pickup was overcorrected to the left causing the truck to skid across both lanes of WY 210 and exit the road to the north. After leaving the highway to the north, the GMC went down an embankment, tripped and rolled multiple times. Mr. Cotton was ejected during the crash as he was not wearing his seat belt.

Speed, driver inattention, and possible fatigued driving are being investigated as contributing factors in this crash. Mr. Cotton marked the 115th highway fatality in Wyoming for 2015. There were 123 fatalities during this same time period in 2014.