WYO 59 south of Gillette reopens following fatal crash

WYO 59 was reopened at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, following a four-hour closure due to a crash that resulted in three fatalities and at least three injuries.

The crash at about 7:30 a.m. involved eight vehicles and blocked the entire highway.

The Highway Patrol says a northbound Powder River Transport bus crashed into the back of a line of traffic stopped by a flagger at a WYDOT crack sealing project.

The construction zone was properly marked with signs, speed reductions and flaggers. The Powder River Transport bus collided with the line of stopped vehicles at a high rate of speed, killing three people in stopped vehicles. None of the two dozen people on the bus were seriously injured. 

The Patrol is urging drivers to pay attention to work zone signs and signals and slow down, stay off the phone, and buckle up.