Four Highway Deaths Include Two Sisters

Fatal accidents across the state kill four since Monday.

Two who died are sisters from Sheridan. Wyoming Highway Patrol Sargeant Steven Townsend says that crash was a single vehicle rollover west of Gillette Tuesday afternoon.

The driver, 17-year-old Katherine Owings, and her sister, 16-year-old Jennifer died. Neither were wearing seatbelts. Both were ejected during the rollover of their Chevy Trailblazer.

Townsend says the investigation continues and distracted driving by use of a cell phone has yet to be eliminated.

"We may never know exactly what happened.  Apparently there were no witnesses. Winds were blowing yesterday, gusting to around 35 miles per hour in that area, which should not have adversely effected that vehicle and blow it off the roadway."

Also on Tuesday, 80 year old Florence Heiner, of Thayne Wyoming was killed when the vehicle she was riding in was struck from behind on snowy roads, pushing that passenger car into the intersection of Lincoln County roads 117 and 122. The passenger car was hit broadside by another. The driver who came from behind has been sited for driving too fast for conditions. Townsend says the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office will determine if any criminal charges will be filed.

A fourth incident on Monday killed a truck driver out of Greeley when his tractor trailer rolled for unknown reasons south of Cheyenne.