Nearly seven months after a loaded semitrailer hauling bentonite plowed through a concrete storage building and a rental home owned by Upton, Wyoming, restaurateur Mickie Remington, both buildings are still piles of cinder blocks, twisted metal, and motor oil.
Since her property — which she used as part of her income — was demolished, Remington said she’s been living an insurance nightmare with her carrier over the damages.
Remington, who operates Remy’s Diner on U.S. Highway 16 where locals flock for chicken-fried steak, hash browns and homemade pies, told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that Progressive Insurance, which insured the trucker in the March 24 crash, is drastically lowballing demolition and replacement costs for the storage building and house that she has long relied on for rental income.
“I couldn’t put up a tent for that,” said Remington of what Progressive offered. “It’s not fair."
She’s fortunate that her diner narrowly missed getting hit in the crash.
The 2,000-square-foot shop, which was rented to an electrical repair business, was appraised for $250,000 but only garnered a $58,000 offer from Progressive, she said.
The insurance company offered to pay Remington $180,000 for the 1,200-square-foot house appraised at $187,000.
Before the crash, Remington rented the shop for $500 and the house for $800 per month.
“Before this I had two incomes from rental properties and now I have none,” Remington said, adding she may sue Progressive.
Progressive did not respond to a request for comment.
‘He Was So Lucky'
The early morning crash happened after the driver, who Remington suspects either fell asleep at the wheel or had a medical emergency, was traveling north on Highway 16 and smashed through the cinder block storage building, which formerly housed a service station.
The truck then continued and plowed into the house several feet away.
The impact pushed the tenant at the time, who was in bed, through a wall and out to the outside.
“He was so lucky,” said Remington. “If he were in the shower, he wouldn’t be here right now.”
A semitrailer full of bentonite smashed through the side of a storage shed and a vehicle, then halfway through a house Monday in Upton. The man living in the house was in bed when the truck “pushed his bedroom out the other wall.” (Courtesy Nicole Kregel, Kregel Towing & Recovery) 
A semitrailer full of bentonite smashed through the side of a storage shed and a vehicle, then halfway through a house Monday in Upton. The man living in the house was in bed when the truck “pushed his bedroom out the other wall.” (Courtesy Nicole Kregel, Kregel Towing & Recovery) 
A semitrailer full of bentonite smashed through the side of a storage shed and a vehicle, then halfway through a house Monday in Upton. The man living in the house was in bed when the truck “pushed his bedroom out the other wall.” (Courtesy Nicole Kregel, Kregel Towing & Recovery) 
A semitrailer full of bentonite smashed through the side of a storage shed and a vehicle, then halfway through a house Monday in Upton. The man living in the house was in bed when the truck “pushed his bedroom out the other wall.” (Courtesy Nicole Kregel, Kregel Towing & Recovery) 
A semitrailer full of bentonite smashed through the side of a storage shed and a vehicle, then halfway through a house Monday in Upton. The man living in the house was in bed when the truck “pushed his bedroom out the other wall.” (Courtesy Nicole Kregel, Kregel Towing & Recovery) 
A semitrailer full of bentonite smashed through the side of a storage shed and a vehicle, then halfway through a house Monday in Upton. The man living in the house was in bed when the truck “pushed his bedroom out the other wall.” (Courtesy Nicole Kregel, Kregel Towing & Recovery) 
A semitrailer full of bentonite smashed through the side of a storage shed and a vehicle, then halfway through a house Monday in Upton. The man living in the house was in bed when the truck “pushed his bedroom out the other wall.” (Courtesy Nicole Kregel, Kregel Towing & Recovery)
Still A Hazard
A tow truck driver who responded to the crash said at the time it appeared the operator of the semi, who was not identified, required some stitches, but was otherwise OK.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for details on whether the driver was ticketed or arrested.
Remington said she was notified of the crash through a phone call from a Remy’s waitress who reported what sounded like an explosion.
Remington said it was fortunate that she was a little late arriving at Remy's that morning and could have been seriously hurt or killed had she parked in the lot just before the crash.
“When I arrived, there was dust, smoke, and the sound of the semitruck engine roaring,” she said.
In addition to debris, dried bentonite — a natural clay mineral used for industrial applications such as drilling mud and pond sealant, and other products, such as face masks and kitty litter — remains at the crash site months later.
Remington worries the materials pose environmental and safety dangers, but she can’t move forward with repairing the devastating damage until she can find a resolution to her dispute with the insurance company.
“Just think if some kids got in there and the damage it could do,” she said.
Upton Police Chief Brian Neals told Cowboy State Daily the debris is a terrible hazard for children and an eyesore for motorists driving along the highway into town.
He also said he feels for Remington’s situation.
“I don’t blame her,” he said. “The insurance company needs to pay the costs to secure (the structures) or they need to come down.”
Scott Schwebke can be reached at scott@cowboystatedaily.com.
