Interstate 80 near Fort Bridger, Wyoming. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — The Wyoming Highway Patrol took to social media to make a plea over the weekend — to help identify a hit-and-run semi-truck driver.

The crash occurred on I-80 at about 4:20 p.m. at Exit 99 near Rock Springs on Friday, April 25, according to Arron Healy, public information officer with WHP District 3. Healy told the Rocket Miner the semi-truck driver struck a commercial truck driver who was outside of his parked vehicle.

Healy also confirmed that after the impact, Houston, Texas resident Jeremy Simien, 41, passed away as a result of his injuries. Simien worked for Andrus Transportation. 

He noted there is what appears to be a red lion logo on the white suspect semi-truck.

Healy wasn’t sure why the driver had pulled over.

“He was out of the vehicle,” Healy said. “This is a reminder that when you see vehicles on the side of the road, you have to give them space. It’s the law.”

The Wyoming Department of Transportation concurs with the WHP, saying it is not an option to pull over for authorized emergency vehicles and other parked or slow-moving vehicles — it is state law.

The Move Over Law requires drivers to move to the farthest lane away from an emergency vehicle or other authorized vehicle on the side of the road on a road with two or more lanes. On two-lane roads, drivers must slow down to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

Anyone with information about the driver involved in Friday’s hit-and-run is encouraged to call the WHP at 307-777-4321.