SHERIDAN, WY — A Sheridan-area teenager died after the vehicle she was driving struck a bull on Decker Road just north of the city limits, the Wyoming Highway Patrol said. The crash happened late Saturday night near milepost 3 on Wyoming State Highway 338, also known as Decker Road.
Troopers said a black Angus bull had been brought toward a fenced area when it entered the roadway. The animal crossed the center line and moved into the southbound lane, where it was hit by the teen’s vehicle around 10:45 p.m. on Sept. 6.
After the collision, the vehicle left the roadway, went through a right-of-way fence and came to rest against a tree in a river bottom, according to the patrol.
Wyoming Highway Patrol says bull crossed into southbound traffic
The Highway Patrol said a trooper was trying to place the bull into a fenced area when the animal got onto the road. The patrol described the bull as a black Angus and said it crossed from one side of the highway to the other before entering the lane of travel headed south.
The roadway incident happened close to Sheridan’s northern edge, making the collision an immediate concern for drivers in the area. The patrol did not say whether other vehicles were involved or whether there were any additional injuries at the scene.
Authorities have not released any further details about the circumstances that led to the bull being on the highway. The crash remains a reminder of how quickly an animal in the road can create a fatal hazard for a motorist who does not have time to react.
Laylie Laumbach was driving southbound when the crash happened
The driver was identified by the Wyoming Highway Patrol as 18-year-old Laylie Laumbach of the Sheridan area. She was traveling southbound at the time of the crash and, according to the patrol, was unaware of the situation unfolding ahead of her.
The collision occurred before she could avoid the animal. After impact, her vehicle veered off the highway to the right and continued through fencing before stopping against a tree.
Officials said Laumbach was wearing a seat belt. Despite that, she did not survive the crash. No additional information about the vehicle, speed or road conditions was included in the patrol’s account.
Crash scene ended in a river bottom after the vehicle left the road
After the impact with the bull, the vehicle traveled off the roadway and into a river bottom area, where it came to an uncontrolled stop. The patrol’s description indicates the driver lost the ability to guide the car once it left the highway.
The vehicle passed through a right-of-way fence before striking the tree. The sequence underscores how a collision with a large animal can set off a chain of events far beyond the first impact.
No information was provided about damage to the bull or about how far the vehicle traveled after leaving the pavement. The Wyoming Highway Patrol has not announced any road closures or broader public safety actions tied to the crash.
Decker Road crash adds to dangers of nighttime rural driving
The crash happened at night on a road just outside Sheridan, where drivers can encounter limited visibility and unexpected obstacles. In this case, the animal was already being moved toward a fenced area when it got into the travel lane.
Large animals on roadways can create immediate danger because motorists often have only seconds to respond. The Highway Patrol’s account shows that the bull moved into the southbound lane before the collision took place.
While the patrol did not outline a broader pattern or issue on Decker Road, the fatality has drawn attention because it occurred so close to town and involved an ordinary nighttime drive turning deadly in moments.
Community response centers on Laumbach family after fatal wreck
Laumbach’s death prompted an outpouring of condolences from community members reacting online, with several messages offering prayers and sympathy for her family. The responses reflected the shock of a fatal crash involving a young local driver.
Those tributes also showed how closely the Sheridan area follows serious traffic accidents that affect local families. Beyond the emotional reaction, the Wyoming Highway Patrol has not said whether the crash will lead to any additional findings or recommendations.
For now, the known facts remain limited to the time, place and sequence of the collision. The fatal wreck stands as a sudden and tragic end to what began as a late-night drive on a road just north of Sheridan.
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