JACKSON, Wyo. — This winter has caused hazardous driving conditions and a number of vehicle collisions in Teton County and the state of Wyoming, whose highways have the second highest death rate due to a car crash in the nation.
The Wyoming motor vehicle crash rate is 22 deaths per 100,000 population, according to the most recent statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). The only state that ranks higher is Mississippi, with 25.4 deaths per 100,000 population.
Sixty percent of crashes that cause death in Wyoming are single-vehicle crashes, and 61 percent of drivers killed have known blood alcohol content results.
In Teton County, the most recent data from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) reveals that roughly two percent of crashes are critical and result in a fatality. Fifteen percent of crashes result in possible injury and 18.4 percent of crashes involve a wild animal. The total number of crashes in Teton County in 2021 was 527, the highest in the past four years. The number of vehicle occupant who do not use a seat belt in Teton County is higher than the statewide total.
Laramie and Fremont Counties have the highest number of fatal crashes in Wyoming.
Stay safe out there drivers! Remember to drive slower in slush as the valley warms and give wildlife a brake.
