Wyoming Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash Near Thermopolis

A 58-year-old Thermopolis, Wyoming man is dead after crashing his motorcycle near Thermopolis late Friday afternoon.

The crash happened around 4:45 p.m. at milepost 134 on U.S. Highway 20.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol says Joseph Watkins was entering a signed construction zone when he failed to slow for a pickup and a vehicle in front of it that were coming to a stop at the direction of a flagger.

The patrol says Watkins hit his brakes and laid his motorcycle over, causing him to separate from the bike and slide into a guardrail.  The motorcycle hit the pickup and slid about 30 feet before coming to rest on the shoulder.

Watkins was not wearing a helmet and died from his injuries.

The patrol says driver inattention is being investigated as a possible contributing factor.

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