UPDATE: Trucker Describes Horrors Inside Fiery Tunnel
GREEN RIVER — Departments and agencies from across Wyoming rushed to Green River on Friday after a spectacular and tragic crash in the Green River Tunnel along Interstate 80.
It was a frantic rescue and recovery effort that continued around the clock into Saturday, underscoring the severity of the fatal and fiery pileup that left at least two confirmed dead, and possibly more.
Wyoming Highway Patrol reports Saturday morning the count of fatalities and injured could rise as the number of vehicles involved in the crash has not been confirmed.
Rescue efforts were stalled for hours by an intense tunnel fire that burned late into the evening Friday, along with crumbling debris from the compromised structure of the tunnel, which raised concerns about the tunnel’s structural integrity and postponed the advancement of first responders, WHP reports.
Bit by bit, the multi-agency response effort is bringing the situation under control, officials say.
"First responders bravely worked through the night to fight the fire in the tunnel, and we could not be more appreciative of their teamwork and support." said WHP Lt. Col. Karl Germain.
Wyoming Highway Patrol and local wrecker companies are working Saturday to clear damaged and abandoned vehicles from the tunnel.
The nonstop response has involved fire crews from Green River and Rock Springs battling spotfires into the early morning. Engineers and geologists from the Wyoming Department of Transportation continue work to ascertain the structural integrity of the tunnel.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Wyoming Highway Patrol Crash Investigation team are conducting parallel investigations and collaborative reconstruction analysis.
Stunned In Green River
The incident has left Green River residents shaken and stunned, describing their town smelling of char, and the sight of pitch black billows of smoke rising from both ends of the quarter-mile-long tunnel.
“My mom and I were asking each other if we should pack up and evacuate our home,” said Kiera Mollman, 18, who lives within eyesight of the tunnel entrance. “And now we’ve been watching the fire burn for hours and hours. It’s been really scary.”
April Dawn Berg, lifelong resident and manager of the Green River Dairy Queen, explained that a feeling of sadness has spread around the community.
“When I saw the smoke and heard the initial news, it gave me a sick feeling,” she told Cowboy State Daily on Friday night. “And as the day progressed and the smoke kept billowing I’ve been more worried because if it’s going on that long, it just can’t be good.”
She was beside her co-workers gathered around to watch a TikTok video of a frightening moment captured by one of incident’s survivors.
“We lost count of how many times the ambulance has driven past,” she said, pointing to a hydrant on the corner outside. “And the fire trucks were refilling right there less than an hour ago [around 7 p.m.].”
Smoke pouring out of Green River tunnels on I-80 on Friday, February 14, 2025 (Photo: David Brewer) 
Emergency crews worked around the clock responding to a massive crash and fire in the Green River Tunnel on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Wyoming Department of Transportation) 
Heavy, black smoke continues to billow out of both ends of the Green River tunnels along Interstate 80 after a fatal multivehicle pileup and fire inside Friday afternoon. People in traffic report “huge explosions.” 
Heavy, black smoke continues to billow out of both ends of the Green River tunnels along Interstate 80 after a fatal multivehicle pileup and fire inside Friday afternoon. People in traffic report “huge explosions.” (Wyoming Department of Transportation via Webcam) 
An investigation is underway at the Green River Tunnel along Interstate 80 after a fatal multi-vehicle crash sparked explosions and an intense fire inside Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Wyoming Department of Transportation) 
Heavy, black smoke pours from the Green River Tunnel along Interstate 80 after a Friday crash inside the tunnel. (Wyoming Highway Patrol)
What We Know So Far
The crash was reported at 11:30 a.m. and the WHP confirmed Saturday that the principal fire was extinguished by 9:30 p.m., but spot fires continued into the morning.
Sgt. Jason Roascio, WHP public information officer, told Cowboy State Daily that many unknowns remain.
“We’re not going to know if there are additional fatalities until it is safe to enter, when the fire has been fully put out, and the scene gets reconstructed and we get a vehicle count and begin going through the scene,” he said, standing on the icy ramp leading to the tunnels entrance.
WYDOT engineers are confident in the structural integrity of the eastbound tunnel and its ability to carry traffic again once the westbound crash scene is cleared. For now, traffic continues to be routed around the crash, while westbound traffic is being diverted at mile marker 91 and eastbound at mile marker 89 through Green River.
“It took me 40 minutes to get to work because of all the 18-wheelers going through town. And I’ll tell you this much, I won’t be taking that tunnel anymore,” said one Green River resident who declined to be identified.
In the glow of police lights at the tunnel’s west end late Friday night, Cowboy State Daily identified four crash-involved vehicles, including a semitrailer. Just inside the tunnel entrance, investigators set up LiDAR laser stands used to generate 3D images for crash reconstruction analysis.
In the meantime, residents are counting their blessings.
“I’ve been through that tunnel a lot,” said Mollman. “Any one of us could have been in there,” said Mollman.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available.
