By Mike Karr
Staff Writer

BASIN — A two-car accident west of Basin Thursday claimed one life and sent another man  to a Billings, Mont. hospital in critical condition.

Robert W. Russell, 36 of Basin died when a vehicle being driven by David J. Virgilio, 23, of Worland, swerved and hit Russell’s pickup head-on, according to Sgt. Stephen Townsend with the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at 1:19 p.m. on highway WYO 30, four miles west of Basin in Big Horn County.

David J. Virgilio, 23, of Worland, was driving a 2001 Freightliner van leased to Alsco Linen Co.  eastbound on WYO 30, when for reasons unknown at this time, his vehicle went off the right side of the roadway.  Virgilio attempted to steer back onto the roadway but over steered his vehicle to the left. 

According to Townsend, this caused his vehicle to come back onto the roadway crossing the centerline going into the westbound lane of travel. His vehicle then struck Robert W. Russell, 36, of Basin, head on. Russell was driving a 1993 Ford pickup. Russell died at the scene and Virgilio was LifeFlighted from the scene by helicopter to St. Vincent Healthcare Hospital in Billings. WYO 30 was closed for approximately an hour and a half with traffic being diverted onto alternate routes around the crash location. 

This crash remains under investigation. 

Neither Russell or Virgilio were wearing their seatbelts.

Also on Tuesday, May 13, the highway patrol investigated another fatality that occurred seven miles northeast of Lander in Fremont County.

The crash happened at 5:34 p.m.

Matthew H. Phifer, 25, of Lander, was driving a 1999 Nissan Frontier pickup westbound on Lyons Valley Road and had stopped as required at the stop sign located at the intersection with WYO 789. After stopping Phifer then pulled out onto WYO 789 attempting to turn left however he pulled into the path of a 2001 Bluebird Bus that was northbound.

The bus was driven by Glenda J. Whitener, 55, of Riverton.

The Whitener vehicle collided into the Phifer vehicle, striking it broadside on the driver’s side. After impact, both vehicles went off the roadway into the northern barrow pit. Phifer, who was not wearing a seat belt, was partially ejected from the cab of the pickup.

Whitener was also not wearing a seat belt and was totally ejected out the passenger side entry/exit bus door. There were no other passengers on the bus. Both drivers were transported by ground ambulance to the Lander Valley Medical Center in Lander.

Phifer was pronounced dead at Lander Valley Medical Center at 6 p.m. Whitener was treated and released.

Every driver and passenger in a motor vehicle in Wyoming is required to wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt when the motor vehicle is in motion on public streets and highways. Last year in Wyoming, 76 or 51 percent of the 149 fatalities, were not properly restrained as required by Wyoming Statute.

Last year at this same time Wyoming’s fatal count was 50. Robert Russell is the 39th fatal for 2008.