Green River tunnel fatalities identified; 18 injuries treated at Rock Springs hospital

ROCKET MINER — The Wyoming Highway Patrol and Sweetwater County coroner have released the names of those who lost their lives in Friday’s crash in the Green River tunnel on Interstate 80.

Christopher Johnson, 20, of Rawlins; Quentin Romero, 22, of Rawlins; and Harmanjeet Singh, 30, of Nova Scotia, Canada, succumbed to their injuries at the scene, according to a Wyoming Department of Transportation press release sent Tuesday afternoon.

The crash happened at 11:37 a.m. Friday inside the westbound tunnel at mile marker 90.2. In total, the WHP believes 26 vehicles were involved in the event: 10 passenger vehicles and 16 commercial vehicles. Six commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles were completely destroyed by the fire inside the 1,200-foot tunnel.

“Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the community of Rawlins and to the families, friends and loved ones of all three of these individuals,” said WYDOT Director Darin Westby.

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County treated 18 injuries from the crash. No additional details about injuries are available.

“Due to complexities in this crash, off-scene investigations and crash reconstructions conducted by WHP are expected to take quite some time,” said Col. Tim Cameron, who heads up the Wyoming Highway Patrol. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we examine all the evidence and work toward developing a crash narrative and cause that is as accurate as possible.”

From Facebook

Work continues to move I-80 traffic out of the community of Green River and back onto the interstate.

WYDOT’s contractor, DeBernardi Construction, placed about 3,000 feet of barrier by Tuesday afternoon and expected to place an additional 2,000 feet by the end of the day.

Contractor S & L Industrial also installed traffic control, signage and other temporary infrastructure to assist with the head-to-head traffic. WYDOT expects traffic to be switched over on Thursday.

WYDOT is also starting the process of soliciting contractors to clean debris and soot in the westbound tunnel, the first step in the long process of restoring it to normal operations.

“It is imperative that folks stay away from the westbound tunnel for their safety,” Cameron said. “Between the debris that could still fall and serious concerns about the air quality in the tunnel, it’s too dangerous for anyone without proper protective equipment and training to be in the area. We do not want to add any more injuries as a result of this horrible event.”

Due to the increased use of dash cameras and social media, WHP is asking the public to send any photos or video of the crash to grtunnelcrash@ wyo.gov.

To view a video of the wreckage in the tunnel, go to https://youtu.be/ WcEIz4wgf58 , courtesy of the Sweetwater County Sheriff ’s Office.

Condolences and donations

In the meantime, Facebook posts offering condolences to the families of the crash victims have been popping up in feeds.

Found on the Wyoming National Guard Facebook feed is a condolence from Maj. Gen. Gregory Porter, the adjutant general of the Wyoming National Guard.

“I am saddened to inform you of the tragic passing of Specialist Quentin Romero of the 115th Field Artillery Rear Detachment. Specialist Romero was involved in a severe multi-vehicle

accident in Green River, Wyoming, on Friday, February 14, 2025. He was not in a duty status at the time of the incident.

“Specialist Romero’s contributions to the WY NG and his presence within our ranks will be deeply missed. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family during this difficult time.

“We are in close contact with Specialist Romero’s family to offer support and to coordinate the appropriate military honors that reflect his service and dedication.

“Everyone is encouraged to attend the memorial service to honor Specialist Romero’s memory and to show support for his family and fellow Soldiers. Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, starting at 11 a.m. in the Jeffrey Center, 315 W. Pine St., Rawlins, Wyoming.”

Rawlins resident Marissa Lucero posted that she is gathering donations from local businesses to create baskets that will be raffled off. The money raised in the raffle will be donated to the families of the victims, according to the post.

Lucero, who works at Rawlins Middle School, spoke to the Rawlins Times/Rocket Miner about how giving the community has been during this time of sorrow.

She said she was expecting to have three baskets to raffle. However, with all the donations, that number has risen to 10, at least.

“It’s huge,” Lucero added. “People from Green River and Rock Springs have also donated. Everyone has been so good to remember the families.

“Rawlins has definitely shown up for these families,” she said. “We’re just trying to spread the word. There’s been a tremendous amount of response.”

This story was published on February 19, 2025.