Crash names released

A fatal crash between a local resident and a couple from Alabama occurred in the early evening of Sept. 4 near the intersection of Wyoming Highways 130 and 230. On Sept. 6, the Wyoming Highway Patrol issued a news release detailing their narrative of what took place at milepost 28 on WYO 130.

“A 2012 Ford F-150,” began the release, “was traveling southbound on WY 130. A 2007 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound and attempted to pass a pickup and trailer traveling in the northbound lane. The Chevrolet entered into the southbound lane causing the driver of the Ford to swerve to the right and enter the right of way.”

The release went on to detail that the driver of the Chevrolet swerved left in an attempt to avoid a collision, but both vehicles would end up in a near head-on collision in the right of way. Following the collision, the Ford caught on fire but was quickly put out by first responders.

The occupants in both vehicles were wearing their seatbelts and extrication was required. The driver of the Chevrolet was identified as Saratoga resident Donald “Donnie” Price, who was 47 years old, and the driver of the Ford was identified as Christopher Leigh, a resident of Fairhope, Ala., who was 71 years old.

Leigh succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash while Price would succumb to his injuries after being flown by helicopter from the scene of the crash.

According to the WHP, the crash south of Saratoga marks the 73rd fatality in 2018 on Wyoming highways. This is compared to 103 in 2017, 82 in 2016 and 108 in 2015 around the same time.