Lander Man Faces Charges In Girl’s Death

RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) — A Lander man faces a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide in the December death of an 11-year-old girl struck and killed after leaving her school bus.

Fifty-two-year-old William Dean Barnes of Lander also faces misdemeanor charges including driving too fast for conditions and passing a stopped school bus that was flashing its red lights.

Barnes is scheduled to answer the charges Feb. 14 in Fremont County Circuit Court in Lander.

Authorities say Barnes was traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 26 at 57 mph when he struck Wind River School sixth-grader MaKayla Marie Strahle at about 7:30 p.m., Dec. 20th.  She was hit while crossing the roadway to her home, about five miles east of Crowheart.