Setting sun plays role in Sunday evening crash

The setting sun was a major factor in a two-vehicle crash Sunday evening five miles east of Lovell on U.S. 14A between Road 16 and Road 17.

Law enforcement, the Lovell Volunteer Fire Department and a North Big Horn Hospital ambulance were dispatched at 6:36 p.m. and responded to the scene. 

According to Wyoming Highway Patrol spokesman Aaron Brown, a truck was pulling a hay stacker westbound on the side of the road but was partially in the lane of travel while waiting to make a turn.

A Jeep Cherokee, also westbound, rear-ended the hay stacker and suffered extensive damage. The driver of the Cherokee was transported to North Big Horn Hospital with minor lacerations and was charged with careless driving.

The driver of the truck pulling the hay stacker was also charged in relation to improper security of an oversized load, Brown said.

“The sun was at a point where it was making things harder to see,” Brown said. “However, in this event the Highway Patrol would like to remind drivers to slow down when driving into the sun and use safety equipment like your vehicle’s visor and sunglasses.”

The Highway Patrol did not release the name of either driver.