Josh Barta
jbarta@uwyo.edu
Albany County Coroner Jennifer Graham identified the body of a man found dead after a collision on Highway 230 last week as 19-year-old Michael Foust.
Foust was a UW junior petroleum engineering major from Grand Junction, Colorado.
The body of Foust was discovered in the cabin of his Nissan truck last week after colliding head-on with a semi.
Lt. Mike Simmons said the crash happened around 3 p.m. Jan. 31 about 15 miles west of Laramie.
“It was cold outside, but the weather was not a factor in the crash,” he said. “Unfortunately the driver of the pickup failed to negotiate that curve and kept on driving straight, which led that vehicle to go into the oncoming lane.”
The semi was carrying a load of crude oil, and the two vehicles erupted into flames after the collision.
Patrol officers on the scene were initially unable to identify the body of the driver of the Nissan being all identifiable features were incinerated in the fire.
The driver of the semi was unharmed.
“There were no identifying marks on the victim,” Simmons said.
Jennifer Graham contacted a forensic dentist out of Torrington to help identify the victim.
“The forensic dentist is who identified the body,” Simmons said. “I called into the coroner’s office and she was able to confirm the identity of the victim.”
Dean of students Sean Blackburn has offered the support of his office and counseling services.
The UW counseling center is located in Knight Hall and open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are willing to support students who may be affected by the loss of Foust.
Students wanting to pay their respects can come to the petroleum engineering department this week to sign a sympathy card for Foust’s mother Crystal Foust.
