WHP Investigates Deadly Truck-on-Pedestrian Collision

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is investigating a truck-on-pedestrian crash that happened on Interstate 90 in Campbell County.

According to an official release from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, troopers had responded to the scene of a vehicle/deer collision near mile-marker 126, on eastbound I-90 in Campbell County in the mid-evening hours on November 18th.  The narrative says that a tow-truck had also responded to the scene along with troopers, and all vehicles had emergency lights flashing.  It was then said that the 65-year-old male tow truck driver was outside the passenger side of his truck, when he was struck by a pickup headed eastbound.

The release says that the truck, allegedly driven by 28-year-old Justin L. Helsper of Gillette,  "failed to move over and struck [the victim] with the right front of his vehicle. After impact, Helsper failed to stop and continued eastbound."

Troopers, already on scene for the deer-on-vehicle crash, radioed in following Helsper's alleged collision with the tow truck driver, and Helpser was pulled over approximately 1.5 miles further down the road by another trooper.

Helsper faces charges of aggravated vehicular homicide. Troopers investigating this fatal crash believe alcohol is a contributing factor and are awaiting toxicology results.

The crash resulted in a temporary closure of the eastbound lanes of I-90 for approximately 3½ hours.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, all patrol vehicles as well as the tow truck being operated by the victim, were parked on the emergency shoulder of the interstate, and were not obstructing travel on the highway.