Wyoming Authorities: Man May Have Intentionally Dived in Front of Truck on I-80
State troopers investigating the death of an Idaho man who was hit and killed by a commercial truck on Interstate 80 early Wednesday say the man may have intentionally put himself in front of the truck in an effort to end his own life.
Kyle Waters, 26, of Idaho, died after being hit near Evanston shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday. According to a fatal crash investigation report by the Wyoming Highway Patrol, state troopers are investigating the incident as "a possible intentional act by the pedestrian to be struck by this vehicle."
The Patrol says a commercial truck was eastbound on I-80 and, shortly after passing mile marker 3, the driver saw a man -- Waters -- running across the median from the north to the south.
The driver said Waters stopped at the edge of the median and, as the commercial truck approached, Waters darted out from the median, across the left lane. The driver told investigators it appeared as though Waters had stumbled and fallen in front of him.
The driver steered to the right, but was unable to avoid hitting Waters. The driver then pulled over and stopped.
Investigators say that dash cam footage provided by the trucking company showed Waters pause briefly in the median before darting out onto the interstate and "diving" head-first in front of the truck as the truck was steering to the right in an effort to avoid Waters.
Several of Waters' family members, who had been with him just before the collision, told troopers that Waters had been experiencing mental health issues including depression over the previous few days.
They had arrived in Evanston to meet with Waters and get him assistance, but Waters had run away from them at a nearby hotel, and then went directly up on to the highway.