NTSB investigation reveals likely cause of deadly Green River Tunnel crash

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. (ABC4) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report about its investigation into the deadly Green River Tunnel crash in Wyoming, saying the event was likely caused by a pickup truck crashing just after exiting the tunnel.

Three people were killed in the Feb. 14 crash, and 20 people were treated for injuries sustained in the crash, the NTSB said.

Preliminary details revealed that the first pickup truck that crashed — a 2006 Toyota Tundra — reportedly spun while exiting the tunnel, hit a metal guardrail, came to a stop near the exit of the tunnel, and then blocked the right lane, according to the NTSB.

“Snow had fallen earlier in the day, and although the weather was clear, the roadway was wet with possible ice and/or slush forming near the tunnel exit,” the NTSB said.

The variable speed limit on I-80 and through the tunnel was reduced from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour because of the weather. After the pickup truck crashed, a tractor-trailer attempted to avoid crashing into the pickup truck, but hit the left side of the tunnel.

The tractor-trailer stopped on the shoulder, after which another vehicle attempted to stop and began to spin before striking a guardrail and stopping against a hillside.

Another semitrailer hit the brakes to avoid hitting the vehicles ahead, causing it to jackknife inside the tunnel and block both lanes just before the tunnel exit. A Dodge pickup truck in the left lane, carrying four people, crashed into the jackknifed truck. Another semi-truck crashed into the tunnel wall and “collided with and overrode” the pickup truck.

Two occupants of the Dodge truck received deadly injuries, and a third person died from a “postcrash fire” after being trapped inside a “tractor/semitrailer combination vehicle,” the NTSB said.

On Feb. 18, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) identified the victims as Christopher Johnson, 20; Quentin Romero, 22; and Harmanjeet Singh, 30. Johnson and Romero were both from Rawlins, Wyoming, and Singh was from Nova Scotia, Canada, according to WYDOT. All three succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

At the top of its report, the NTSB clarifies that the information shared is preliminary and subject to change.

“All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar events,” the NTSB said.