(Thermopolis, WY) – On January 24, a fatal hit-and-run was reported in Thermopolis, which prompted the Thermopolis Police Department (TPD) to request community assistance in identifying the suspect, who reportedly “did not stop or render aid.”
Hours later, the TPD announced on its Facebook page that a suspect had been apprehended, without providing further details.
On Monday, January 27, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) preliminary report of the incident was posted, but it did not provide information on the suspect who was detained.
That same day, County 10 reached out to the TPD, which advised that any further details would come from the investigating agency, the WHP.
Before the WHP could get back to County 10, a heavily redacted call log report from the Lander Police Department (LPD) was later issued on January 28.
The log report informed that a call was made to the LPD at 8:58 AM, which stated that a reporting party had advised of a juvenile subject in Lander who was “involved in a hit and run,” and who needed to be “taken into custody before his parents show up.”
That call log did not directly indicate if the hit-and-run was in relation to the fatal report from Thermopolis.
On January 31, the Wyoming Highway Patrol shared the following release with County 10, which confirms the information in the LPD call log and provides the name of the deceased.
In the early morning hours of January 24, 2025, a fatal crash occurred in the area of 732 Arapahoe Street in Thermopolis WY.
A pedestrian identified as Bernadine Blacketer, an 85 year old female from Thermopolis, was crossing the road when she was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle did not stop after the collision with Blacketer.
The driver of the vehicle, a juvenile, was driving to the parking lot of the Thermopolis High School to get on the bus for a sporting event.
After the incident was reported to Police, a vehicle with damage consistent with this crash was located at the High School parking lot. The vehicle registration information led to the juvenile.
The juvenile, who was at a sporting event in Lander, was contacted and detained by the Lander Police Department. The juvenile was then transported to the Thermopolis Department for an interview.
No charges have been filed at this time.
Due to the fact that the suspect is a minor and the incident did not take place in Fremont County, follow-up is unlikely, but County 10 will provide updates if/when they become available.