UPDATE FROM WHP: Tino Cachey (53 year old male), Ute Cachey (52 year old female) and Erik Brecht (37 year old male) have been identified as the fatalities from this crash. They are German national residents. All three sustained fatal injuries on scene.
The crash involved a group of six motorcycles with nine total riders on the six motorcycles and a pickup truck. Five of the six motorcycles were involved in the crash with the pickup. The six motorcycles were traveling west on US 14/16/20. The pickup, a 2003 Chevrolet C/K 1500, driven by 61 year old Ontario, Oregon resident Manuel Defuentes, was traveling east on US 14/16/20. The vehicles met in a gradual curve in the highway. The truck driven by Defuentes crossed the centerline of the road while in the gradual curve and entered the westbound lane of travel. After crossing the centerline, the pickup struck five of six westbound motorcycles with seven total riders on the five motorcycles that were struck.
The five motorcycles struck were all 2015 Harley-Davidsons. The majority of the riders involved in the crash were wearing helmets. Whether all the riders involved were wearing helmets is still being determined.
The four non-fatal riders involved in the crash were all transported to West Park Hospital in Cody. Three of the four non-fatal riders were then airlifted to Billings, Montana. The fourth was treated at West Park Hospital and released. The three that were airlifted to Billings have been identified as 47 year old Buch Gannertshofen, Germany resident Frank Brecht (male), 65 year old Ludwigshafen, Germany resident Dieter Brecht (male) and 67 year old Ludwigshafen, Germany resident Renate Geiger (female). 44 year old Buch Gannertshofen, Germany resident Christine Mueller (female) was the fourth non-fatal rider who was treated and released from West Park Hospital.
Manuel Defuentes, who was wearing his seat belt, was transported to West Park Hospital where he was treated and released. Defuentes has been arrested and charged with one count of negligent vehicular homicide. Additional charges are pending. Defuentes was booked in at the Park County Detention Center in Cody.
The investigation is still ongoing.
ORIGINAL: The Wyoming Highway Patrol is currently investigating a six vehicle crash near Cody that left at least three people dead.
Wyoming Highway Patrol said in a release that the crash occurred at about 12:20 p.m. approximately 23 miles west of Cody on US Highway 14/16/20 this afternoon (June 9th).
There are three confirmed fatalities in the crash which involved six vehicles.
As of 4:45 p.m., WHP said the westbound lane was still blocked but traffic was being diverted around the crash scene.
This crash was still actively being investigated at the time of the release.
WHP will release more information as it is available.