Posted 10-4-08

Wyoming Highway Fatality #116

LOCATION OF THE CRASH
Milepost #:  22                                      
Time of Crash:  8:08 p.m.
Highway:  WYO 130                                          
Date of Crash:  10/2/08
*Location Info:  2 miles south of Saratoga in Carbon County

NUMBER OF VEHICLES INVOLVED:  1
NUMBER OF PERSONS INVOLVED:  1

DRIVERS/PASSENGERS
********************FATALITIES*************************
NAME:  Mitchell J. Birch                       
AGE:  17         
SEX:  M
CITY & STATE:  Saratoga, WY
SUBJECT WAS DRIVER OF:  Vehicle #1
YEAR: 1994
MAKE: Mazda
MODEL: 4 dr 626
DATE/TIME OF DEATH:  10/2/08 at the scene
SEAT BELT USE:  No
 
NARRATIVE
Birch was northbound on WYO 130 when his vehicle went off the east side of the roadway.  Birch then over corrected the steering to the left, then overcorrected the steering to the right.  The vehicle then began a broadside slide going off the east side of the roadway once again.  The vehicle slid through a ditch and went down a steep embankment and then overturned 1 ¼ times.  During the rollover, Birch who was not wearing a seat belt, was totally ejected from the vehicle.   The vehicle came to rest in an area where it was not able to be seen from the roadway during the hours of darkness.  The crash was found the next morning at 7:00 a.m.   It is believed that Birch was texting on his cell phone at the time of the crash as his text messages suddenly stopped.