Trucker Booked in Fatal Wyoming Crash

(TORRINGTON, Wyo.) — Nearly five years after a fatal crash south of Hawk Springs claimed the lives of two young people, the Colorado truck driver involved in the collision has been booked into the Goshen County Jail on a homicide-by-vehicle charge.

Conan Dean Ferguson, 54, of Briggsdale, Colorado, was booked August 24, 2026, according to the Goshen County jail roster. The booking was made by the Wyoming Highway Patrol at approximately 2:53 p.m. The roster lists charges including overtake on the right, driving within a single lane, speed too fast for conditions, careless driving, first offense, and homicide by vehicle. The roster listed $0 total bail.

Ferguson was released from the Goshen County Jail on August 25, according to jail records. Publicly available information reviewed for this report does not establish whether Ferguson voluntarily turned himself in or was taken into custody by authorities, and no reliable source located as of publication provided details regarding the circumstances of his release.

The warrant stems from a November 17, 2021, crash on U.S. Highway 85 near milepost 69.5, south of Hawk Springs.

Fatal crash claimed two young lives

According to the original Wyoming Highway Patrol release, troopers were notified of the crash at approximately 10 p.m.

An 18-year-old, Korey Bowers, was driving a 2005 Ford Taurus with his left turn signal activated as he attempted to turn onto Wyoming Highway 313. Ferguson was driving a northbound 2016 Volvo tractor-trailer.

The Highway Patrol reported that Ferguson attempted to pass the Taurus on the right shoulder. As Bowers turned right, the Volvo collided with the side of the Ford, causing the car to overturn.

Bowers was wearing a seatbelt and was transported by ambulance to Community Hospital in Torrington. He later died from injuries sustained in the crash.

His passenger, 19-year-old Emma Nelson of Juniata, Nebraska, was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene.

Ferguson and his passenger, 29-year-old Manos Zouridakis of Longmont, Colorado, were not injured.

The deaths were the 100th and 101st traffic fatalities recorded in Wyoming during 2021.

Bowers, who was living in La Grange, Wyoming at the time, was formerly of Beardmore, Ontario, Canada, where his family had served as missionaries. Bowers and Nelson were both students at Frontier School of the Bible in LaGrange, Wyoming. Bowers died on his 18th birthday.

Investigation continued into 2022

The crash investigation did not end with the initial report.

According to information provided by Wyoming Highway Patrol spokesman Aaron Brown to Cowboy State Daily, Trooper Samuel Szott was assigned to investigate the crash in March 2022. The investigation was completed in October of that year, after which the evidence was forwarded to prosecutors.

Brown explained that fatal crash investigations can take several months because troopers assigned to crash teams do not work exclusively on crash reconstruction.

Nearly four years later, a warrant was issued for Ferguson on June 30, 2026, charging him with homicide by vehicle. The charge is a misdemeanor under Wyoming law and alleges criminally negligent driving that resulted in a person’s death. The offense carries a potential sentence of up to one year in jail.

Families filed wrongful-death lawsuit

The criminal case is not the only legal action stemming from the crash.

The families of Bowers and Nelson filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in federal court on July 29, 2022, representing the estates of the two victims.

The lawsuit named Ferguson, McLane Company Inc., Transco Inc. and Zouridakis as defendants and requested a jury trial.

Court records show Ferguson was served with the lawsuit on August 27, 2022, and filed an answer and affirmative defenses on September 19. McLane and Transco filed their response on September 13, denying the allegations and asserting affirmative defenses.

The civil litigation later became part of a broader discussion about trucking safety and motor-carrier hiring practices.

In February 2025, attorney Maren Chaloupka, who represented Nelson’s family, testified before the Nebraska Legislature while speaking against proposed legislation concerning trucking companies and civil litigation.

Chaloupka told lawmakers that the lawsuit involving Bowers and Nelson uncovered what she described as concerns about the motor carrier’s hiring practices and its handling of drivers with previous safety issues.

She said the families were determined to use the lawsuit to push the carrier to make changes rather than simply seek financial compensation.

“Money alone was not going to make this case go away,” Chaloupka told lawmakers.

According to her testimony, the motor carrier ultimately agreed to make changes. The testimony did not identify the specific changes or disclose the financial terms of any settlement.

The available reporting does not indicate that the civil lawsuit proceeded to a public trial. Instead, the family’s attorney’s 2025 testimony indicates the litigation resulted in an agreement by the motor carrier to make changes.

Criminal case now moves forward

The criminal case against Ferguson remained unresolved for nearly five years following the crash.

When the warrant was first reported publicly in August, Ferguson had not yet been arrested or appeared in court. Goshen County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Boyer declined to discuss the pending case, citing ethical rules and the interests of justice.

Ferguson’s August 24 booking changed that status.The Goshen County jail roster lists the Wyoming Highway Patrol as the arresting agency and shows Ferguson’s release the following day.

No public source located for this report confirms whether Ferguson surrendered voluntarily or was apprehended by authorities.

As the criminal proceedings continue, Ferguson remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

The case brings renewed attention to the November 2021 crash that took the lives of Bowers and Nelson, as well as the nearly five-year gap between the fatal collision, the completion of the Highway Patrol investigation and the filing of the criminal charge.