Wyoming Motorcyclist Killed in Crash South of Torrington

A Wyoming man is dead after crashing his motorcycle south of Torrington Monday night, the Wyoming Highway Patrol says.

The crash happened shortly before 8 p.m. at milepost 3.965 on Wyoming 161, about three miles west of Huntley.

Wyoming Highway Patrol

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According to a fatality crash summary, 67-year-old Wayne Bates was riding north approaching the junction with County Road 47 when he failed to negotiate the right-hand curve, crossed the centerline, and went off the road.

Bates was wearing a helmet but died from his injuries.

The summary lists speed as a possible contributing factor.

Bates is the 58th person and the third motorcyclist to die on Wyoming's highways so far this year.

RELATED:

2022's Deadliest Wyoming County by Traffic Deaths

While car crashes can occur anywhere, some roads in Wyoming are more dangerous than others.

According to Wyoming Highway Patrol data, there were 117 fatal crashes in the Cowboy State in 2022 resulting in 133 deaths.

Of those fatal crashes, the majority (13.68%) occurred in Laramie County -- two in January, one in February, one in March, two in April, one in June, two in July, three in August, two in September, one in November, and one in December.

Sweetwater County saw the second most fatal crashes last year, 12, while Fremont and Lincoln counties each saw 10.

Albany and Park counties each recorded eight, and Campbell, Converse, and Natrona counties each tallied seven.

The deadliest 2022 crash in Laramie County took place on June 17 when two semis collided on Interstate 80 east of Cheyenne and immediately became engulfed in flames killing both drivers and a passenger.

Laramie County also saw two fatal crashes involving motorcyclists, two fatal crashes involving juveniles, and a fatal crash involving a pedestrian last year.

Below is the Wyoming Highway Patrol narrative of every fatal crash that occurred in Laramie County in 2022.