Passing in poor visibility results in fatal wreck near Newcastle

WYOMING – Wyoming Highway Patrol is saying poor visibility was likely a factor in a crash yesterday morning that killed two.

On April 30, 2019, a fatal crash occurred at milepost 215 on US 85 south of Newcastle, Wyoming. Around 10:31am, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the area for a two-vehicle collision.

A 2014 Chrysler Town and Country was traveling northbound on US 85 when the vehicle crossed into the southbound lane to pass another vehicle. As the driver was passing the vehicle, he was unable to see an oncoming 2004 Lincoln Town Car due to the rain mist. The Lincoln and Chrysler collided head-on in the southbound lane.

The driver of the Lincoln has been identified as 84-year-old Cheyenne resident Harry J. Mueller. Mueller was wearing his seatbelt but succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash. The passenger has been identified as 82-year-old Cheyenne, Wyoming resident Margaret J. Mueller. She was wearing her seatbelt and transported to the Weston County Memorial Hospital for injuries she sustained in the crash.

The driver of the Chrysler has been identified as Bernard W. Holman, 76, of Spooner, Wisconsin. Holman was wearing his seatbelt and transported to the Weston County Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to injuries he sustained in the crash. The passenger has been identified as 78-year-old Spooner, Wisconsin resident Bonnie M. Stewart. Stewart was wearing her seatbelt and transported to the Weston County Memorial Hospital for injuries she sustained in the crash.

Poor visibility is being investigated as a contributing factor.

This is the 50th and 51st fatalities on Wyoming’s roadways in 2019 compared to 26 in 2018, 33 in 2017, and 14 in 2016 to date.