Torrington Man Dies In Crash North Of Cheyenne

A Torrington man died in a two-vehicle crash north of Cheyenne before the winter storm entered western Wyoming on Monday night, according to a news release from the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

Branden D. Christman, 26, was driving a sport utility vehicle north on U.S. Highway 85 at 11:05 p.m., when it crossed the center line near mile post 53 about 37 miles northeast of Cheyenne, according to the news release from Patrol Sgt. David Wagener.

Felipe Cisneros, 30, was driving a tractor-trailer southbound.

Cisneros saw Christman's SUV heading toward him and steered away to avoid a crash. However, a side-swiping collision still happened.

Christman died at the scene.

He and Cisneros were wearing seat belts. Cisneros was uninjured.

Two passengers in the SUV were injured.

Emily Troudt, 27, of Torrington, was not wearing her seat belt and was taken by ground ambulance to the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Troudt was treated and released.

A 25-day-old infant in a child restraint also was taken to the Medical Center and hospitalized.

Road conditions were still clear and dry as snowfall had just begun.

Contributing factors in this crash, including lane use, are still under investigation.

Troudt has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and child endangerment.

Christman's death marked the 144th highway fatality in Wyoming for 2015. There were 148 fatalities during this same time period in 2014.