Authorities believe man fell asleep at the wheel before fatal crash that killed two motorcyclists

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 36-year-old man, Steven Capellen, has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide for allegedly killing Steve Layman and Rick Lynch in a fatal crash last month.

Capellen, 36, has been charged in Circuit Court for the crash that took place the morning of June 18 in southern Campbell County.

Based on the crash investigation, Wyoming Highway Patrol officials believe Capellen fell asleep at the wheel of his truck and drove into oncoming traffic, killing Layman and Lynch.

Capellen’s bond was set at $15,000, cash or commercial surety, and he posted bond on July 9. 

In Wyoming, homicide by vehicle is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for one year and a $2,000 fine.

Troopers were dispatched to a crash on Highway 450 near mile marker 54 involving a pickup and two motorcycles. EMS arrived at the scene first and declared that the two men on the motorcycles were dead.

A white Chevy Silverado was seen in a ditch on the north side of Highway 450. A man, later identified as the driver, was seen crouching by the driver’s side door. He suffered only minor injuries, according to court documents.

About 50 feet behind the Silverado was a Honda Goldwing motorcycle. Further down the highway was a BMW motorcycle. 

When a trooper asked Capellen what happened, he said, “I don’t even know.” 

He remembered that he was driving west on Highway 450 toward Highway 50 and he had his cruise control set to 70 mph when all of a sudden he came up on an embankment and he crashed his truck.

“I had no idea they (the motorcycles) were there until the first officer showed up,” Capellen told troopers, according to court documents.

Capellen showed no signs of drug or alcohol use and was not asked to perform sobriety tests.

This story was published on July 18, 2025.