An 18-year-old woman “allegedly” jumped out of a vehicle on the Wind River Indian Reservation last week, leading to her death, according to a preliminary report the Wyoming Highway Patrol released in recent days.
Stephanie Bearstail, 18, of Fort Washakie, was the passenger in “an unknown SUV” traveling westbound on Rendezvous Road near Riverton, about 30 minutes after midnight on March 4, says the Wyoming Highway Patrol fatality listing.
The entry cites the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs as the investigating agency.
Bearstail “allegedly jumped out of the vehicle while it was still in motion for unknown reasons,” says the listing. It doesn't offer reasons for why the jump is merely alleged at this point.
The entry says the wind was severe at the time, and the road was dry.
Bearstail died about 12 hours later at Riverton’s SageWest Health Care, her dad, Kevin Ferris Jr., told Cowboy State Daily in a March 7 interview.
She couldn’t be airlifted due to weather conditions at the time, said Ferris.
“She was precious to the family,” he said, adding that his daughter was on track to graduate from Fort Washakie High School, and had been taking early college courses through Central Wyoming College.
She was pursuing studies in medical science, he said.
“She was just — you know — tragically taken away from the family,” said Ferris.
He said he didn’t want to discuss the case while it’s under investigation, and he declined to confirm whether anyone is in custody in connection with the teen’s death.
Ferris did not immediately respond to a Thursday voicemail requesting additional comment on the preliminary report’s claim that Bearstail allegedly jumped from the moving vehicle.
The report says to verify its claims against the investigating agency. The BIA referred Cowboy State Daily to the FBI. The FBI said it still considers this a "death investigation" but did not confirm other details.
Numerous Facebook users have gone public about Bearstail’s death, posting her photograph alongside an informational flier about domestic and sexual violence, and how they impact indigenous communities.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
