Wyoming sees increase in highway blow-overs

Despite the efforts of the Wyoming Department of Transportation and other agencies, the number of blow-over crashes involving light and high-profile vehicles has increased on Interstates 25 and 80 over the last four years.

According to WYDOT, in 2013, between mile markers 0 and 120.817 on I-25, Wyoming saw 11 blow-over crashes. In 2017, there were 29 such crashes over the same stretch.

In 2013, I-80 between mileposts 199.051 and 402.779 saw 15 blow-over crashes. In 2017, that number was 31.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that commercial driving experts blame people ignoring warning signs or underestimating the power of the wind.

WYDOT has recently ramped up efforts to get more light trucks and high-profile vehicles off the road during wind events, stopping light or high-profile vehicles at checkpoints.