Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, March 25, 2025:
NTSB offers details of fiery Wyoming I-80 tunnel crash
The National Transportation Safety Board, in a preliminary report of its investigation into a fatal crash that occurred Feb. 14 along I-80 in Wyoming, published details of the events that contributed to the crash.
Aerial views of the crash site, showing some of the vehicles in their final rest positions.Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office; annotated by NTSB
On Friday, Feb. 14, around 11:33 a.m., a 2006 Toyota Tundra was traveling west in the left lane through an I-80 tunnel near Green River. In this area, I-80 is a divided, four-lane highway, as shown in images above. The variable speed limit (including inside the tunnel) at the time of the crash was set at 55 mph, having been reduced from 65 mph the night before due to the weather. Snow had fallen earlier in the day, and although the weather was clear, the roadway was wet with possible ice and/or slush forming near the tunnel exit.
As the Toyota exited the tunnel, it spun to the left, struck a metal guardrail, continued traveling west, and came to rest about 150 feet from the westbound tunnel exit, where it blocked the right lane and a portion of the left lane.
Following this crash, the driver of a westbound 2024 Peterbilt and 2016 Great Dane tractor-trailer, also traveling in the left lane, tried to avoid the stopped Toyota and struck the left side of the tunnel.
After impacting the tunnel, the Peterbilt driver regained control, avoided impact with the Toyota, and stopped on the right shoulder about 450 feet west of the tunnel exit. A westbound 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling in the left lane of the tunnel when its driver observed the stopped Toyota and applied the brakes. The Jeep began to spin, impacted the metal guardrail and curb near the tunnel exit, continued on a northwest trajectory across both travel lanes, and came to rest against the hillside beyond the right shoulder.
[Related: 'Estimated opening time is unknown': Winter from hell on I-80 in Wyoming]
Moments later, a 2020 Volvo VNL and 2020 Wabash tractor-trailer was traveling west through the tunnel in the right lane. The Volvo driver braked in response to the stopped Toyota, which caused the unit to jackknife inside the tunnel and block the left and right lanes about 200 feet before the tunnel exit.
Shortly thereafter, a 2012 Dodge Ram, traveling in the left lane and occupied by four people, struck the Volvo. At the same time, the driver of a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia and 2023 Wabash combination, traveling in the right lane, steered into the left lane, where it struck the tunnel wall and also collided with and overrode the Dodge.
The entangled Freightliner and Dodge continued traveling west, re-impacted the Volvo, exited the tunnel, struck the Toyota, and came to rest after striking the rear of the Peterbilt.
Following these collisions, several other vehicles collided inside the tunnel, and a post-crash fire ensued.
As a result of the collisions, two of the Dodge occupants were fatally injured. The driver of a tractor-trailer inside the tunnel was trapped inside the truck and died in the post-crash fire. Twenty other vehicle occupants sustained injuries of varying degrees.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar events.
[Related: Wyoming I-80 tunnel open to traffic after deadly crash]
RaceTrac set to open 100th high-flow diesel location
As RaceTrac readies to exhibit at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky, this week, the convenience store and fuel provider announced it will open the company’s 100th high-flow diesel store for truck drivers later this spring.
While subject to change based on construction timelines, RaceTrac is targeting one of three soon-to-open travel centers, including Tarrant City, Alabama; Monroe, North Carolina; or Texarkana, Texas, as the company’s 100th addition to its high-flow diesel network.
The continued expansion of the company’s diesel network of RaceTrac and RaceWay stores, which began in 2018, affirms its commitment to better serve the trucking community with high-flow diesel canopies available on-site to meet the fueling needs of professional drivers and fleets, the company said.
“Operating our own fleet gives us firsthand knowledge of what it takes to keep trucks on the road and profitable for their operators,” said Nick LaFalce, marketing manager for RaceTrac’s Travel Center and commercial fleet sales program. “At MATS 2025, we’re eager to connect with other trucking companies and demonstrate how RaceTrac and RaceWay can be valuable partners, offering convenient locations, competitive fuel pricing, broad payment acceptance, and services tailored to the specific requirements of the trucking industry.”
RaceTrac and RaceWay will be in booth No. 18060 at MATS and will showcase its range of services designed to support trucking companies and professional drivers.
[Related: Ohio Turnpike travel plaza named best truck stop in U.S.]
