Before, during and after the annual Border War college football game Friday between rivals Wyoming and Colorado State universities, law enforcement agencies on both sides of the state line will be on heavy patrol looking for impaired drivers.
In its 57th consecutive year, the 116th Border War matchup between Wyoming and CSU will be played at 6 p.m. Friday at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. The annual rivalry includes celebrated traditions that include the winner taking home the Bronze Boot trophy and a pregame ceremonial run involving both schools ROTC members.
The rivalry brings tens of thousands of students and fans from the visiting school to the game. More than 32,000 fans are expected to attend this year, many of whom will make the drive south to Fort Collins along U.S. Highway 287.
A history of fatal crashes along the stretch of highway between Laramie and Fort Collins has earned it the nickname “highway of death.”
The increase in traffic, and game-related alcohol consumption, has prompted law enforcement in both states to increase patrols and checkpoints between Laramie and Fort Collins just as they have over the last several years.
“To help make sure every fan gets to the game and home safely, law enforcement from Wyoming and Colorado will be out en masse conducting a bi-state, multiagency impaired driving enforcement operation,” the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) said in a statement.
Albany and Laramie counties in Wyoming will see coordinated and beefed-up enforcement, while Larimer and Weld counties in Colorado should expect increased patrols, WYDOT said.
Tragic History
Agencies in Wyoming participating include the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Laramie Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, University of Wyoming Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, Pine Bluffs Police Department, and the Cheyenne Police Department. In Colorado, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Collins Police Department, Loveland Police Department, CSU Police Department and the Colorado State Patrol will be part of the operation.
The stretch along U.S. 287 between schools has seen its share of fatal crashes that have impacted both schools. In February, three members of Wyoming’s swimming and diving team died when the car they were in crashed about 10 miles south of the state border. Two other members of the men’s swimming and diving team, also in the car, were injured in the crash.
No other vehicle was involved.
In 2001, eight cross-country runners from the University of Wyoming were killed when the car the group was riding in from Fort Collins back to Laramie was struck head-on by a pickup driven by a drunk driver.
In 2023, 144 people were killed on Wyoming’s highways, according to WYDOT. Of those, 55 involved impaired driving. So far in 2024, there have been 91 fatalities on the state’s highways.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol urges fans to designate a sober driver for the game. Drivers who see impaired motorists can call the Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately (REDDI) hotline at 800-442-9090 to report suspected drunk drivers, the state patrol said.
Justin George can be reached at justin@cowboystatedaily.com.
