To say it’s been quite a February in the 307 is a big understatement. In all my years as a reporter, I don’t recall a period quite as volatile as the last ten days. It all started with the horrific news out of Byron of the death of a mom unable to cope who shot her four daughters before turning the gun on herself.
We here in the Big Empty hung onto hope and offered many prayers that one of the girls, seven-year-old Olivia, would survive. But on Saturday her little body gave in to the trauma of the shooting.
Those deaths devastated two families and demonstrated the long-held-notion that Wyoming is a medium-sized city with very long streets when people all across the state reacted with compassion and support.
Then, one of those winter-time multi-vehicle crashes happened on I-Semi (also known as I-80). The details are still emerging from what appears to be a 26-vehicle pileup that started just west of the westbound tunnel at Green River and backed up into the tunnel.
On social media we watched almost-real-time cell phone videos of black smoke pouring out of both sides of the tunnel, and have seen additional videos since the accident.
Several people were injured and three lost their lives. Thanks to heroic actions by first responders and even those involved in the accident themselves, the loss of life was kept to a minimum. That doesn’t diminish the harsh reality that the families of three people are no longer whole.
People who don’t live in Wyoming may question how people who do live here like to spend winter days – like taking an ATV out onto a reservoir for some recreation. Such an outing on Saturday turned tragic on Glendo Reservoir when the vehicle broke through thin ice and plunged into frigid waters, resulting in the death of the two occupants.
One other recent accident no doubt hit the men and women of the Wyoming Highway Patrol particularly hard. Trooper Parker Smith responded to an accident, only to find out it was his family’s minivan that was involved and that his two-year-old son Christian was seriously injured.
According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association, the toddler had significant injuries including broken bones and a skull fracture. The boy they call “Little Buddy” Christian is still in intensive care at Children’s Hospital in Denver and faces what could be years of medical treatment due to a brain injury. His mother and older brother were also involved in the accident but did not receive serious injuries. Even so the family faces tough challenges.
Just as people across Wyoming made donations to support the Byron family – and gathered to pray for little Olivia – they are also making donations for the WHP trooper’s family – and to pray for “Little Buddy.”Â
For updates or information on how to contribute to the Smith family visit the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association Facebook page.
Wyoming’s First Responders are the Best in the West. While some are paid professionals like Wyoming Highway Patrolmen or firemen from larger cities, many of them are volunteers. They will leave their families sitting at the table, or put their work aside at the drop of a hat, to respond to a call for help.Â
They often do this using their own vehicles – from pickups to snowmobiles and ATVs – filled with fuel they paid for and without pay themselves because they are good and helpful humans. Many of these volunteers have had specialized training or have learned from years of taking part in such volunteer activities.
And then there are people like the dad involved in the Green River tunnel accident who helped his own family reach a safe location outside the tunnel and then went back in to guide other people whose vehicles became mired in that accident.Â
As a reporter, I have covered many accidents and life-threatening situations. At every scene I’ve seen the professionals like EMTs and law enforcement officers. At many I’ve also seen the volunteers – the helpers.
They are the folks who assist someone involved in an accident. They are the ones who take a plate of food to a family facing challenges or who may even organize a prayer vigil are the best of Wyoming, too. All those helpers are what makes Wyoming such a special place.
Hug your family and friends, or step up and help in tough times. Always continue standing strong in the 307.
Candy Moulton can be reached at Candy.L.Moulton@gmail.com
