Seatbelts save three

Life can change in an instant, a fact that people can sometimes forget. Such was the case with Encampment resident Kassidy Barr as she was headed to the movies with her friend, Ember Yeary, on the evening of June 4.

The Saratoga Sun reached out to Barr following the crash. Barr granted permission to the Sun to use her Facebook post and photos in filing this report.

"When we woke up Ember said she felt like she got ran over by 32 Spanish bulls and I said I felt like I got hit by truck. Both are probably pretty reasonable," wrote Barr in a post on her Facebook page. "Forever thankful for that car and Dodge Durangos will always hold a spot in my heart. The cop at the scene said we were all lucky to be alive, I agree with him 110 percent."

At approximately 5 p.m. on June 4, Barr was headed to Rawlins with her friend, Yeary, to watch a movie. Once they were north of Saratoga, their plans suddenly changed as a vehicle headed south came into the northbound lane of WYO 130 and collided head on with Barr's Durango. Both the Durango and the other vehicle, driven by Saratoga resident Kathy Parrie, were totaled in the wreck.

"I was unable to stop and so was she. I swerved a little which caused her to hit my passenger side front more, but it was a head on collision," Barr wrote on her page. "I'm so thankful that everyone involved is okay."

Barr, Yeary and Parrie were all wearing their seatbelts when the crash occurred which Barr credits to their survival.

According to a recent press release from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, following a fatal crash near Douglas, Wyo., there have been 40 fatal crashes in the state to date. Comparatively, 2017 saw 46 fatal crashes, 2016 saw 25 and 2015 saw 53 around the same time.

Wyoming's Report on Traffic Crashes, compiled and released by the WHP, stated that Carbon County saw a total of 706 crashes in 2016. The report also states that in 2016 83 percent of drivers and 64 percent of passengers in crashes were wearing their seatbelts.