UPDATE: Glenrock Woman Cited In Fatal Crash On Old Glenrock Highway; Other Charges May Be Pending
The Wyoming Highway Patrol has charged a Glenrock woman with following too close as a cause of a five-vehicle wreck that killed a woman recently, according to a news release from the Wyoming Highway Patrol.
Other charges may be pending against Cassandra Wickett, 19, according to the news release from Patrol Sgt. David Wagener on Thursday.
The crash resulted in the death of 75 year old Leoda Cain from Glenrock.
The Highway Patrol is investigating distracted driving -- cell phone use -- as the contributing factor in this crash that marked the 78th highway fatality in Wyoming for 2016. There were 108 fatalities this same time last year.
Patrol Lt. Joseph Scimone said Tuesday the Highway Patrol probably will present its findings in a few weeks to the Converse County Attorney.
The case started when troopers, the Converse County Sheriff's Office and the Glenrock Police Department responded to the scene on the Old Glenrock Highway -- U.S. Highway 20/26 -- about 10 miles west of Glenrock shortly after the crash at 3 p.m. Aug. 24.
Cain was stopped in her sedan in eastbound traffic in a construction zone with signs and flaggers present.
A pickup traveling about 70 mph, driven by Wickett, hit Cain's car. That started a chain reaction of rear-end collisions with three other stopped vehicles.
Cain was wearing her seat belt and was taken to the Wyoming Medical Center where she was in critical condition. She died Sunday.
Wickett was wearing her seat belt, was taken to the hospital and was treated and released.
Five occupants in the other three vehicles were either uninjured or taken to the Wyoming Medical Center and treated and released.