Worland woman dies in one-vehicle crash

by Karla Pomeroy

A 26-year-old Worland woman was killed in a one-vehicle crash on the evening of September 30, south of Thermopolis.

According to Wyoming Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeremy Beck, Maxwell J. Wruck, 31, of Worland was driving a 2000 Ford F250 southbound on U.S. 20 just past Thermopolis.

At about 9 p.m. near milepost 128 Wruck swerved to the left to avoid a deer in the roadway. He ended up losing control of his vehicle and overcorrected to the right, causing the vehicle to enter into a “driver-side leading slide.”

Beck said, “The passenger side of the pickup collided with the west guardrail before deflecting back onto the paved shoulder and colliding with the guardrail again. During the initial collision, the passenger, Kari Ann Bowden, 26, of Worland was ejected through the passenger’s side window.”

The Ford pickup continued to cross back across the highway, striking and deflecting off the east guardrail, crossed the highway and struck the west guardrail before coming to a stop.

Beck said Bowden was not wearing a seatbelt.

Wruck was also not wearing a seatbelt and was injured. Injuries were unknown.

Bowden was pronounced deceased at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.

Beck said speed was being investigated as a possible contributing factor of the crash.