WHP 12-19, 2016
No injuries were sustained after a crash on Saturday, December 17th involving a charter bus that was carrying University of Wyoming band members and other university members to the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, California. The crash occurred at 12:01 p.m. on the 17th near mile post 208 on Interstate 80 westbound approximately three miles west of Rawlins, Wyoming.
Four westbound charter buses carrying U.W. students and other university members to the Poinsettia Bowl were traveling together on I-80 on the ice covered highway at reduced speeds. A westbound 2001 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by 18 year old Evanston, Wyoming resident Elias Tesoro, attempted to pass the buses and lost control on the ice. The Ford began to fishtail and crashed into one of the four buses. After the charter bus was struck by the Ford, the bus entered the north ditch before the driver of the bus, 61 year old Aurora, Colorado resident Brenda Taylor, regained control of the bus and was able to steer the bus back onto the shoulder of the highway and come to a controlled stop.
The investigating trooper is crediting the actions of Brenda Taylor maintaining control of the bus after the crash as the main reason for a lack of injuries from this crash.
Elias Tesoro was cited for traveling at a speed too fast for the ice covered highway.