A Casper man died in a crash north of Chugwater, Wyo, on Monday.
Michael L. Cooper, 25, died after he lost control of his pickup and crashed on Interstate 25, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol.
Cooper was driving southbound on I-25 in his 1995 Sonoma pickup truck at about 12:35 p.m. Monday, approximately 11 miles north of Chugwater. Roads were snow and ice covered, and he lost control of the truck—spinning off the highway to the west. The truck slid into the ditch and rolled multiple times. Cooper was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected.
Cooper was transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. The next day, February 2, he died as a result of his injuries.
The Highway Patrol says lack of seat belt use, traveling at a speed too fast for conditions and possible drug use are being investigated as contributing factors in this crash.
The accident marked the seventh highway fatality in Wyoming for 2016. There were 11 fatalities in this same time period in 2015.