News briefs from around Wyoming

From Wyoming News Exchange newspapers

Colorado man dies, bus driver airlifted in Sunday morning crash

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 25-year-old Colorado man died and a bus driver was airlifted for treatment after a head-on crash Sunday morning south of Wright.

Campbell County Coroner Paul Wallem said Nicholas Finnian Mahoney, of Littleton, Colorado, died instantly at the scene.

Sheriff Scott Matheny said the Sheriff’s Office began receiving “numerous” 911 calls at about 7:30 a.m. for a pickup versus passenger bus accident on Highway 59 south of Cosner Road.

He said Mahoney was driving north on the highway in a 2018 gray Ford F-150 when he crossed the double yellow lines and hit a southbound mine passenger bus.

Mahoney had chest and head injuries and was removed from the truck, Wallem said. The driver, age unknown, of the Dakota Bus Service passenger bus was taken to a hospital for treatment by helicopter.

Matheny said there were no other notable injuries to bus passengers.

Rod Orullian, a truck driver who often drives on Highway 59, approached the aftermath shortly after the crash. He saw about six or seven bus passengers trying to get out of the bus through the side windows, while emergency responders worked to take the bus driver out of the vehicle.

Orullian said bus passengers weren’t able to get out through the regular doors. The bus hadn’t tipped over but it had gone about 600-700 yards through a field off of the road. Orullian said he was at the crash site for about two hours before the debris was cleared and the road was reopened.

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Minnesota man arrested after high-speed chase on North Fork

POWELL (WNE) — Prosecutors say a Minnesota man led officers on a high-speed chase west of Cody last week, endangering a Park County sheriff’s deputy and other drivers.

Kirt D. Raymond, 53, allegedly hit speeds of up to 100 mph, drove into oncoming traffic and nearly caused multiple crashes while fleeing from authorities on the North Fork Highway (U.S. Highway 14/16/20W).

After a roughly half-hour pursuit that stretched from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir through Wapiti, into the Shoshone National Forest and back, Raymond was arrested late Wednesday night. He remained in custody on Monday, with bail set at $50,000.

During a Friday hearing in Park County Circuit Court, Deputy County Attorney Jack Hatfield filed felony counts of attempting to cause bodily injury to a peace officer and aggravated fleeing police.

Raymond also faces misdemeanor counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances for a second time in 10 years — Hatfield said Raymond has three prior DUI convictions — and possession of THC (marijuana).

“These are serious charges,” Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah told Raymond. “And so … I’m gonna give you a warning that if you say anything about what happened in this case, it will be on tape and it will be used against you; I am confident of that. And it will be taken out of context.”

After receiving the warning, Raymond said that he is suffering from manic depression.

He indicated he is a military veteran and 100% disabled.

“I haven’t been taking my meds in over three to four weeks and I’m not doing right,” Raymond told the court. “I actually thought I was going towards South Dakota.”

A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for July 17.

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Scammers posing as police officers in Park County

CODY (WNE) — Scammers are posing as local law enforcement officers, accusing victims of not reporting for jury duty or missing a court date, and asking for payment in return, according to Cody Police Department’s Facebook page.

“Scam tactics continually change, but an example of one recently being used is: [the] scammer identifies themselves as a Cody police officer and accuses the victim of not reporting for jury duty and is being fined, or the victim missed a court date and there is a warrant for their arrest unless a payment is made,” the CPD’s Facebook page said.

The payment is demanded in various forms, including prepaid credit cards, wire transfers and even cash sent by mail or inserted into cryptocurrency ATMs, the Facebook post said.

“Victims are asked to read prepaid card numbers over the phone or text a picture of the card,” it said.

“Scammers will use an urgent and aggressive tone, refusing to speak to or leave a message with anyone other than their targeted victim,” the post said. “And [they] will urge victims not to tell anyone else, including family, friends or financial institutions about what is occurring.”

There are several ways to protect yourself from these scams, CPD said.

“Law enforcement authorities will never contact members of the public by telephone to demand any form of payment, or to request personal or sensitive information,” the Facebook post said. “Any legitimate investigation or legal action will be done in person or by official letter.”

The CPD encourages citizens never to give any personal identifying information to anyone unless the caller’s identity can be verified. It also recommends people cease all contact with the scammers immediately, notify their financial institutions to safeguard any financial accounts and file a police report, the Facebook post said.

“Be sure to keep any financial transaction information, including prepaid cards and banking records and all telephone, text or email communications,” it added.