WYHP Release Name in Hwy 230 Fatality

The Wyoming Highway Patrol have released details in a fatal automobile rollover that closed Wyoming Highway 230 for two-and-a-half hours Sunday night, into Monday morning.

27-year-old Jim P. Jones of Cheyenne is said to have died at the scene of the crash, near milepost 16 of Highway 230, between Laramie and the community of Woods Landing.

According to Wyoming Highway Patrol Sgt. Steven Townsend, Jones' 1999 Chevy S-10 was eastbound, just after 9:00 Sunday night.  "Jones failed to negotiate a curve and his vehicle went off the roadway whereupon the vehicle struck a delineator post," Townsend says.  "Jones then attempted to correct the steering of the vehicle back onto the roadway and went into a broadside slide. The vehicle then rolled an undetermined number of times as it crossed both lanes and came to rest in the westbound barrow pit. During the rollover, Jones, who was not wearing a seat belt, was totally ejected from the vehicle."

Sgt. Townsend goes on to say that alcohol is being investigated as a contributing factor of the crash, but that has not been determined.

Jones was the third death this past weekend, attributed to crashes on Wyoming Highways where the deceased were not wearing seat belts.

David Niffenegger of Kaycee was pronounced dead at the scene following a single vehicle crash in Johnson County on July 28th.

Ricardo Castillion of Green River died on July 28th from injuries suffered in a single vehicle crash in Sublette County on July 18th.

Jones, Niffenegger and Castillion were all fully ejected from their vehicles during their respective crashes.

"The reoccurring theme with all three accidents seems to be the drivers and passengers  or both were not wearing safety belts," says Sgt. Townsend.  Use of a seat belt while driving is a state law in Wyoming.