Christopher Johnson, Quentin Romero Obituary, Death – A tragic multi-vehicle crash inside a Wyoming tunnel on Friday claimed the lives of three people and injured 18 others, officials confirmed. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WDOT) and the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) released a statement on Tuesday identifying the deceased as Christopher Johnson, 20, and Quentin Romero, 22, both of Rawlins, Wyoming, and Harmanjeet Singh, 30, of Nova Scotia, Canada. All three victims died at the crash scene due to their injuries.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. inside the tunnel, resulting in a fire that destroyed six commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the scale of the collision and subsequent blaze made rescue efforts challenging. Two of the victims were discovered inside their vehicle outside the tunnel, while the third was located within the tunnel.
“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,” said Darin Westby, WDOT’s director.
In addition to the three fatalities, 18 people were treated for injuries at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs. Authorities have not disclosed the conditions of the injured victims.
The WHP and other investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the crash. While a comprehensive investigation is underway, officials suspect weather conditions may have played a role, as snowfall and icy roads were reported at the time of the incident.
“Due to complexities in this crash, off-scene investigations and crash reconstructions conducted by WHP are expected to take quite some time,” said WHP Colonel Tim Cameron. “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 westbound tunnel remained closed over the weekend, forcing traffic to be rerouted through Green River. Work is being done to redirect vehicles through the eastbound tunnel later in the week. Crews have finished removing all vehicles from the crash site and are now focused on clearing debris and soot. Officials warn that restoring the tunnel to safe operating conditions will be a lengthy process.
“It is imperative that folks stay away from the westbound tunnel for their safety,” Cameron cautioned. “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 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation in conjunction with WHP to analyze the circumstances surrounding the fiery collision. Findings from the probe could lead to recommendations for improving highway safety and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
As the investigation continues, authorities urge drivers to exercise caution in adverse weather conditions and to remain patient as efforts to reopen the tunnel progress.