WILSON, WY — Two people were killed and four others were hurt Tuesday in a multi-vehicle crash that shut down Teton Pass on Highway 22 for much of the day. Wyoming Highway Patrol said its preliminary findings point to brake failure on a dump truck loaded with asphalt as the cause.
The crash happened shortly before noon eastbound above Wilson. Emergency crews reached the scene just after noon and found several disabled vehicles, an overturned dump truck and asphalt spilled across the roadway.
How The Crash Unfolded
According to the patrol, the dump truck struck a motorcycle, two pickup trucks and a Subaru, then glanced off another vehicle before overturning on its side. Troopers described the brake failure as a contributing factor in the collision.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Arron Healy said the truck lost control as it came down the pass. The crash occurred near the Wyoming Department of Transportation sand shed and Trail Creek Ranch.
Victims Identified By Coroner
Teton County Coroner Brent Blue identified the two people who died later in the day. They were David Page, 57, of Mammoth Lakes, California, and Nicholas “Nick” Besobrasow, 66, of Tetonia, Idaho.
Page died along with his dog, according to the coroner’s office. Besobrasow was the founder of Alupka Asset Management in Driggs and had worked for decades in financial services, according to a company biography.
Injured Taken To Hospital
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and the highway patrol said four other patients were taken to St. John’s Health with minor and moderate injuries. Their names had not been released by Tuesday evening.
Fire/EMS Chief Mike Moyer and Incident Commander Chris Stiehl both said the crash was a difficult scene and praised the response from agencies that helped at the pass.
Road Stayed Shut Down
Traffic backed up quickly after the crash, and drivers headed from Jackson back toward Idaho were turned around and detoured through Alpine. That route was also slowed by construction on Highway 26 between Alpine and Swan Valley.
Teton Pass remained closed as investigators, wrecking crews and hazardous materials responders worked through the day. As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Highway 22 was still closed.
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