14 DAY TRIAL // A senior trying to move an injured rabbit off the highway was struck by a vehicle on Saturday night, April 6. 79-year-old William Kieren, of Wyoming, succumbed to his wounds by noon the next day.
The incident took place at around 9 p.m. near the town of Laramie in Albany County, a spokesperson for the Highway Patrol reports.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol report cites Kieren's attempt to “dispatch a rabbit in the roadway,” that ended in him being run over and incurring critical wounds.
Kieren, of Laramie, exited his car to help the animal after it was hit by a vehicle. According to the Laramie Boomerang, a 25-year-old local driving a 2000 Chevy Impala swerved to pass Kieren's vehicle, which was stationed on the shoulder of the road.
Samantha Brown, who was headed East on Wyoming Highway 230, hit Kieren near milepost 6.3 while switching lanes. The driver looked back upon realizing that she had hit something and stopped the car.
Brown told police about stopping to check out the sounds made by the impact but failing to see the elderly man before smashing into him.
First responders were immediately alerted and called to the scene, and the victim of the accident was transported to the Medical Center of the Rockies in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The cause of death and the extent of the victim's injuries have not been made public after he was pronounced dead at 12:50 a.m. on Sunday.
Officials at the Albany County Attorney’s Office have taken over the investigation into the motor crash. Sgt. Stephen Townsend of the local police has told the press in a statement that the inquiry is ongoing.
He adds that they have not yet charged or placed Brown in custody. The motorist has escaped the incident without being injured, the policeman notes.