Explosion in Wyoming highway tunnel, multiple fatalities reported and multi-vehicle pileup

GREEN RIVER (SVINews.com) — An explosion involving multiple semi-trailers and at least two passenger vehicles occurred in the westbound tunnel on I-80 near Green River at approximately 11:37 a.m. on Friday.

All lanes of travel are closed in both directions indefinitely as officials work the scene at milepost 90. According to initial reports from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, there are multiple fatalities.

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has asked those in the area to avoid the hospital and are describing the incident as a “mass casualty event.”

Wyoming Highway Patrol

Green River Fire Chief Bill Robinson told the Cowboy State Daily he was not ready to discuss the situation except to note that the tunnel would be closed indefinitely.

“It’s going to be days before we can work through all this stuff that is going on,” he said.

The WHP has reported that tires inside the tunnel are exploding due to the heat.

Multiple sources say they believe the accident was caused, at least in part, by a semi-truck hauling transformers that had oil catch on fire.