Bomb scare — Suspicious device prompts evacuation at WYDOT facility

A Wyoming Department of Transportation facility in Newcastle was evacuated Thursday morning after an employee inadvertently brought what appeared to be an explosive device onto the property.

According to information from the Weston County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 9:57 a.m. when dispatch received word from the Wyoming Highway Patrol that the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office’s bomb squad was responding to the WYDOT building for an explosive device.

Authorities said a WYDOT employee had discovered the suspicious item in a remote area of Weston County and, unaware of its nature, transported it to the WYDOT office in Newcastle. Upon realizing the potential danger, the employee’s supervisor quickly initiated an evacuation of the facility and contacted law enforcement.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol closed the U.S. Highway 16 bypass and notified local schools as a precaution, while the Weston County Sheriff’s Office and Newcastle Police Department provided assistance with traffic control and scene security, according to information provided by WYDOT.

The bomb squad arrived shortly after noon and rendered the device safe at approximately 1:12 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office report.

Once the area was declared secure, the highway was reopened and normal operations resumed.

No injuries were reported, and the device was safely disposed of by the bomb squad. The incident remains under investigation by the Weston County Sheriff’s Office and Newcastle Police Department.

In a statement, WYDOT apologized for any inconvenience caused by the closure and urged the public to avoid handling or transporting suspicious objects.

“If you see something suspicious, do not approach or move it,” the release said. “Instead, contact local law enforcement immediately.”