Fire engulfs cab of delivery truck

Shortly after 8 a.m. Monday, the Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department responded to a single-vehicle semi truck accident on Highway 120, near mile marker 17.

According to Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Regina Schulmeister, the driver of the Coca-Cola truck - identified as 23-year-old Ernest Bacus of Greybull - stated he swerved to avoid hitting a deer. Bacus left the road to the right, came back on, overcorrected and wound up overturning the truck.

Schulmeister said Bacus was cited for failure to maintain a single lane of travel and failure to use seat belt while operating a commercial vehicle. She added he was lucky to be alive. Schulmeister also praised the fire department for their quick response, as they had the fire out within 10 minutes.

Schulmeister cautioned if drivers find themselves getting distracted and going off the road, they should come back on easy or, if possible, continue off the road until they can stop. Either option, she said, is better than rolling over a vehicle.