Wyoming Shoulder Stops Linked to 70 Crashes, Six Deaths

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is urging motorists and commercial drivers not to stop on highway shoulders except in emergencies, after 70 crashes involving shoulder-parked vehicles from February 2025 through April 2026 led to six deaths, 21 injuries and 51 cases of property damage. Mechanical breakdowns, medical emergencies, traffic stops and avoiding a collision are among the permitted reasons to pull over; fatigue, phone calls and checking GPS are not and may result in a citation. Drivers who need to stop for a nonemergency should continue to a safe, legal location such as a rest area or service station. In an emergency, drivers should pull as far right as possible and address the situation promptly; the patrol says these crashes are especially dangerous because traffic, including commercial vehicles, may be moving at highway speeds.