(Green River, WY) – The Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) and the Sweetwater County Coroner’s Office have released the names of those who lost their lives in the February 14 crash in the Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80.
Those deceased have been identified as Christopher Johnson (20, Rawlins), Quentin Romero, (22, Rawlins), and Harmanjeet Singh (30, of Nova Scotia, Canada), all of whom succumbed to their injuries on scene, according to the update provided by the WHP.
“Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the community of Rawlins and to the families, friends, and loved ones of all three of these individuals,” WYDOT Director Darin Westby commented in the update shared by the WHP, which also informed that Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater County treated 18 injuries from the crash.
“Due to complexities in this crash, off-scene investigations and crash reconstructions conducted by WHP are expected to take quite some time,” said Tim Cameron, WHP Colonel. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we examine all the evidence and work toward developing a crash narrative and cause that is as accurate as possible.”
The update goes on to share that work continues to move I-80 traffic out of the community of Green River and back onto the interstate.
The WYDOT’s contractor, DeBernardi Construction, “has placed about 3,000 ft. of barrier and expects to place an additional 2,000 ft. by the end of today. Contractor S & L Industrial has also installed traffic control, signage and other temporary infrastructure to assist with the head-to-head traffic.” WYDOT expects traffic to be switched over on Thursday.
WYDOT shared it is also now soliciting contractors to clean debris and soot in the westbound tunnel, “the first step in the long process of restoring it to normal operations.”
“It is imperative that folks stay away from the westbound tunnel for their safety,” Cameron said in the update. “Between the debris that could still fall and serious concerns about the air quality in the tunnel, it’s too dangerous for anyone without proper protective equipment and training to be in the area. We do not want to add any more injuries as a result of this horrible event.”
The WHP and the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office also shared the drone video footage below, which shows the aftermath of the crash.
Additional coverage and details of the crash provided by WYDOT can be found here.