A man was arrested Sunday 29 miles from the scene of a crash that left another man dead a mile east of Laramie.
According to a Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) press release, at 10:15 on Sunday a 2015 International tractor-trailer driven by Thomas Vannest, 59, of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota,
collided with a 2008 Boss Hoss motorcycle driven by John Valyou, 61, of Columbus, Montana. Both vehicles were headed westbound approximately one mile east of Laramie, and Valyou was driving in the left lane. Despite the fact that Valyou was wearing a helmet, he was killed in the crash.
The westbound lane of Interstate 80 was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was cleaned up.
Vannest did not stop after the crash, and proceeded westbound on I-80 until he was arrested. Laramie troopers were able to relay witness statements to Elk Mountain troopers, who arrested him, according to the WHP release.
Vannest is being charged with homicide by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death. He faces up to 1 year imprisonment for each of the charges, as well as a fine up to a combined $7,000. He is also charged with careless driving and failure to drive a vehicle within a single lane and faces a combined $260 fine for these two offenses.
A person is guilty of homicide by vehicle according to Wyoming state statute 6-2-106a “if he operates or drives a vehicle in a criminally negligent manner, and his conduct is the proximate cause of the death of another person.”
Vannest is employed by America Midwest Transport, located in Coveland, Minnesota. America Midwest Transport declined to comment on the arrest.
The factors being investigated as possible causes of the crash include distracted driving, careless driving and speed, according to the WHP release.
Valyou is the 55th highway fatality in Wyoming this year, down from 58 in the same period last year.
