Deadly crash kills 2, ignites major fire inside I-80 tunnel near Green River

A deadly crash Friday in the Interstate 80 tunnel near Green River ignited a fire that kept burning for hours as falling debris blocked crews from extinguishing the flames.

Authorities know the crash inside the westbound tunnel killed two people and injured more, but unsafe conditions inside the structure prevented them from understanding the true scope of the disaster.

“We don’t know what’s in the tunnel,” said Steve Core, communications administrator for the town of Green River. “We have no idea. We can’t get into the tunnel.”

Photos from the scene showed heavy black smoke pouring from the westbound tunnel, with lines of semis backed up in both directions. Falling debris prevented firefighters from getting inside, Core said. 

“There is just major concern about the safety of the firefighters,” he told WyoFile. “The bottom line is fire operations have been suspended. They are waiting for WYDOT to get on scene to investigate the integrity of the structure.”

The Wyoming Department of Transportation planned to send geologists and bridge engineers by plane from Cheyenne to Rock Springs, but they weren’t expected to start their examination of the tunnels until Saturday morning, Core said.

Mass-casualty event

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs described the crash and fire as a “mass casualty incident” and said its staff was caring for the injured. “As a community please be advised that we are working to provide care and take care of those that are involved,” the hospital said in a statement.

Ambulances transported several people from the scene to the Rock Springs hospital. Because the crash shut down the interstate, they had to take surface streets through Green River.

“My heart is broken for the families and loved ones of the victims of this terrible crash,” WYDOT Director Darin Westby said in a message posted to social media. “My thoughts and prayers go out to all who are involved. WYDOT and WHP remain on scene to assist local emergency responders and provide additional support and traffic control.”

Multiple agencies were at the scene. Authorities shuttered both the eastbound and westbound tunnels and also closed westbound Interstate 80 between Rawlins and Rock Springs.

Emergency responders at the scene heard multiple explosions. They suspect they were caused by transformers on a semi-truck igniting, said Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Mower. Burst tires might have also contributed to the explosion sounds.

The crash occurred at 11:37 a.m. along one of the nation’s key freight routes. The circumstances and cause remain under investigation, said Stephanie Harsha, a public relations specialist for the WYDOT district that includes southwest Wyoming. 

It had snowed 3 to 4 inches the morning of the crash, Core said, and the roads were wet. WYDOT had lowered the normal speed limit of 65 mph to 35 mph.

Extended closure expected

The tunnels are expected to remain closed for an extended period, Harsha said. 

“Once they are able to put out the fire and it’s safe for our crews to get in the tunnels, they will make an evaluation at this point,” she said.

She asked that people avoid the area and let first responders do their work. Travelers outside the area should be aware of the closures and plan accordingly, she added.

Officials don’t believe the eastbound tunnel was affected by the wreck and fire. But the state’s engineers will have to determine whether that tunnel is safe before traffic resumes, Core said.

In the meantime, traffic is being routed through Green River. But that also created challenges for the local community.

Heavy semi-truck traffic rolled down Flaming Gorge Way on Friday, and officials worried the weight could cause problems with the four-decade-old cast-iron piping that’s buried under the asphalt.

“We are really concerned about failures there, and if that shuts down, we are really in trouble,” Core said.

Safety was also a concern due to the added truck traffic through town, he said. He asked that diverted drivers slow down as they pass through the community.

Gov. Mark Gordon was closely monitoring the situation, his office said in a Friday afternoon statement. He said there was no estimated time for when the stretch of highway would reopen.

“I am praying for all concerned and their families,” he said in a statement. “I have directed the appropriate agencies to work with the local communities to offer aid and assistance to the injured, to those who have suffered loss, and in support of efforts to resolve ongoing concerns.

“I am immensely grateful to the emergency responders who acted so quickly and without concern for their own personal safety to reach those in peril,” he continued. “We will offer any and all assistance we can to the fullest extent of my powers. Safety for the community and for those directly affected is our top priority.”