Highway deaths in Wyoming increase after 2-year decline

Wyoming Highway Patrol officials say alcohol-related wrecks and lacking seat belt use are playing a role in the rising number of highway fatalities this year.

The Laramie Boomerang reports that highway deaths have been declining for the past two years, but 113 people have died so far this year.

The agency says that by the same time in 2016, 97 people died in wrecks. In 2015, 121 people died, and in 2014, 125 people died.

Wyoming Highway Patrol Sgt. Kyle McKay says that “alcohol and lack of seat belts contribute significantly to the overall fatal accidents rate.”

McKay says 30 out of 88 crashes that involved alcohol resulted in deaths this year, and there have been 21 deaths where both alcohol and lacking seat belts were contributing factors.