Two young men speeding on motorcycles have been killed in the past three weeks after crashing into the same Cheyenne building.
“We are unable to speculate as to why both crashes occurred at this location; however, in the most recent incident, speed is being looked at as a contributing factor,” Alexandra Farkas, Cheyenne Police Department spokeswoman, told Cowboy State Daily in a Tuesday email.
“These are tragic situations that will forever affect the families and friends of the motorcyclists, as well as those who witnessed the crash,” Farkas added. “We urge our community members to slow down and stay alert while driving on our roadways.”
Both crashes happened at the intersection of East Lincolnway and Nationway, one of the busiest in town and a spot where Lincolway makes a predominant curve. Both motorcyclists crashed into the Cheyenne Stitch building, and both were young men, ages 20 and 18.
The Laramie County Coroner’s office did not respond by publication time to a Tuesday request for the men’s names.
The first crash the morning of Aug. 28 happened when the 20-year-old motorcyclist was driving more than 10 mph over the speed limit, lost control in the intersection, drifted to the right, over the curb and into the building, according to a CPD statement at the time of the crash.
The man died later at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
Cheyenne resident Nancy Kulisz was walking to work when she saw it happen.
To her, it looked as though a car was about to run a red light, but the driver slammed on his brakes at the last moment.
“(The motorcyclist) swerved to go around him, and he just lost control and hit the building,” said Kulisz.
The motorcyclist didn’t seem to be going extremely fast from her perspective, Kulisz added.
“I was honestly surprised to see the paramedics and stuff start CPR, because honestly I just thought he hit the corner of the building and knocked himself out,” she said. “It was pretty scary, pretty traumatic.”
Kulisz said she’s been going to therapy to deal with what she saw. She also said that when she walks past the site now, she leaves behind paper cranes as a memorial.
Two motorcyclists have been killed in the past three weeks after crashing into the same Cheyenne building, at right. In both cases, Cheyenne police reports the drivers were speeding. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily) 
Emergency responders at the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash at East Lincolnway and Nationway in Cheyenne. (Cheyenne Police Department via Facebook) 
Two motorcyclists have been killed in the past three weeks after crashing into the same Cheyenne building, at right. In both cases, Cheyenne police reports the drivers were speeding. (Greg Johnson, Cowboy State Daily)
Again
The second crash at that intersection happened late Sunday evening.
The 18-year-old motorcycle rider died on scene.
Two motorcyclists were traveling along East Lincolnway, and an officer in the area watched both of them traveling at a high rate of speed, says a Monday CPD statement. As one rider approached a turn, he lost control and collided with the building, sparking a fire and additional rescue response from Cheyenne Fire Rescue.
The second rider was not hurt and remained on scene. Police cited him for careless driving and driving without a motorcycle endorsement.
“Due to the severity of the crash, the Cheyenne Police Department’s Major Crash Unit responded to take over the investigation,” says the statement.
The business owner at Cheyenne Stitch declined Tuesday to comment, referring Cowboy State Daily to the police department.
Contact Clair McFarland at clair@cowboystatedaily.com
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
