Courtesy WyDOTUPDATED: 10/8/12
Wyoming Highway Patrol released the name of the man who died in a Saturday morning crash on I-80. Irakli Metskhvarishvili, 38, was eastbound driving a tractor trailer and collided into the rear of another tractor trailer. The collision caused Metskhvarishvili's tractor trailer to swing across the interstate, coming to a rest across the eastbound lanes. Both semis were consumed by fire. Another semi traveling east saw the wreck and attempted to stop, but couldn't in time and ran into Metskhvarishvili's trailer.
Four were injured in the collision. A 71-year-old from Lincoln, NE was taken to Ivinson Memorial Hospital with a severe head injury. Troopers aren't sure if his semi was hit by Metskhvarishvili or if he fell on the ice and hit his head. He was later transferred to The Medical Center of the Rockies in Colorado.
A crash that occurred near the Vedauwoo Interchange on Saturday morning has been reported to be fatal. The crash left at least one dead and State Troopers looking for other victims. According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 2:30 AM, 15 miles east of Laramie where dense fog and black ice developed. WyDOT's Traffic Management Center had speeds lowered to 45 MPH.
Troopers believe that seven vehicles were involved in the crash, including several tractor trailer combinations. Two of the trailers were burned by a fire that broke out. Two crash victims were taken by ambulance to Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie while two other victims were taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne by ambulance. One victim who was sent to Ivinson Memorial Hospital has been transferred to a hospital in Colorado.
The eastbound lanes of I-80 remain closed for an undetermined amount of time while the west bound lanes remain open. We will put out more information as we receive it.
