16 CMV were involved in pileup and fire inside I-80 Wyoming tunnel

Wyoming Highway PatrolThree people died in a multi-vehicle pileup and fire that occurred Friday, Feb. 14, inside a tunnel on Interstate 80 in Wyoming.

Reports of the incident say a total of 26 vehicles were involved in the crash that occurred at about 11:30 a.m. in the westbound portion of the tunnel at mile marker 90.2 between exits 90 and 91. Included in the crash were 16 commercial vehicles, six of which were destroyed by the blaze.

The cause of the pileup and resulting fire has yet to be determined. The National Transportation Safety Board said it will be investigating.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation said it plans to use the undamaged eastbound tunnel to accommodate traffic in both directions by Wednesday. However,  there will be a 10.5 ft. width and 16 ft. height restriction through in the eastbound tunnel. Oversized vehicles should contact WYDOT’s oversize loads permit office for detours.

Reports said the blaze was so intense that it damaged the concrete in the tunnel.

Also over the weekend, Interstate 71 in Louisville, Kentucky, was shut down for more than five hours Sunday after multiple crashes on the snow-covered highway. Three charter buses carrying students from Evansville, Indiana, got caught in the mess.