Wyoming Woman Dead Following Rollover Crash Near Rock Springs
A 38-year-old woman died Sunday evening after being thrown from her vehicle in a rollover crash near Rock Springs.
Brook Rutland was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash, according to a report from the Wyoming Highway Patrol. She was also reported to have been drinking heavily before leaving her residence.
Per the crash report, Rutland was alone and driving west/southwest on the Blairtown Connector Road, some two miles from the Interstate 80 South Belt Route.
At 8:41 p.m., Rutland's Jeep Wrangler partially left the roadway, with the passenger-side tires on the shoulder and the driver-side tires outside the fog line. Rutland then corrected and spun across the highway into oncoming traffic.
The Jeep continued over the shoulder and rolled several times. Rutland was thrown from the vehicle and was found some 15 feet away from where the Jeep came to rest.
A speed estimate shows Rutland was traveling at roughly 67 mph in a 40-mph speed zone.
The family reportedly knew that the Jeep's tie rod needed to be repaired. According to the report, a mechanic had advised that the vehicle should not be driven at highway speeds.
Investigators noted damage to the tie rod. Equipment failure is listed as a contributing factor in the crash.
The roadway was dry and weather was clear at the time of the crash.