Courtesy Photo

Mary Johnson, 76, of Prescott, Ariz. had made a stop for lunch in Newcastle before she headed down the U.S. Highway 85 toward Lusk.

Then, at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Johnson ran the right front corner of her 1998 Toyota Camry into the back left corner of a 1998 Dutchman Camper belonging to Charles Coopers, 49, of Newell, S.D.

And she doesn’t remember what happened, Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Andrew Olson said. “After talking with her, she doesn’t remember very much of what happened,” he said. “She said she may have fallen asleep but for whatever reason she drifted off into the emergency lane.”

Cooper was pulling his trailer with his 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 on his way to Cheyenne with Troy Hewson, 48, of Newell, S.D., who was in front of him driving a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 and pulling a 1983 Keiffer goose neck horse trailer. The pair had pulled off the side of the road to examine one of the pickups that had a check engine line on, Olson said.

After making initial contact with the Cooper trailer, Johnson’s vehicle made a full spin and hit the Hewson vehicle. Olson estimated that the Johnson vehicle was going the listed speed limit, 65 mph, when she made contact.

He said that there were no skid marks indicating that Johnson was breaking at the time.

The camper trailer was totaled as was the Johnson vehicle. The 2008 Dodge Ram received more than $1000 in damage to the left rear tire wheel well.

Johnson was taken to Weston County Health Services in Newcastle and treated for lacerations to her arms. She was later released.

Olson issued no citations and drugs or alcohol were not investigated as contributing factors.

“She was just lucky I guess,” Olson said. “If she would have made full contact it probably would have been a different story.”





For the complete article see the 07-29-2009 issue.

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