SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — A woman who survived a deadly crash and subsequent fire in a Wyoming tunnel is now reacting to the latest findings from investigators, offering her perspective on the harrowing incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on Wednesday, shedding light on the sequence of events that led to the tragic crash on February 14. The report details how three people lost their lives and 20 others were injured in a multi-vehicle pileup along the Interstate 80 tunnel in Green River, Wyoming. Among the injured was Andrea Domhoff, who had a close brush with death that day.
In an interview, Domhoff recounted the moments leading up to the crash, saying that she had no idea what was happening around her until after the fact. “All that happened in front of and behind me, so I didn’t know much about it. So, it was kind of whoa,” Domhoff said.
The incident occurred just before noon when Domhoff was traveling through the tunnel, an area she rarely drove through. That day, however, she found herself in the midst of the catastrophic crash. According to investigators, the crash began when a pickup truck spun out of control while exiting the tunnel, likely due to wet or icy road conditions. As vehicles behind the truck attempted to avoid the collision, several cars crashed, and a semitrailer jackknifed, worsening the situation.
Domhoff, who managed to capture video as she walked out of the tunnel surrounded by wreckage and smoke, said reviewing the NTSB’s report was an eye-opening experience. “All these people made decisions to not hit me, and they could have, and I wouldn’t have walked out of there,” she remarked, acknowledging how narrowly she escaped.
Despite her car being totaled in the crash, Domhoff has found the strength to move forward. Although she expressed sadness over losing her vehicle, which was the first car she ever purchased on her own, she explained that she didn’t mind parting with it. “I was not sad to see it go because I did not want to relive that every time I sat in it,” she said.
While Domhoff reflects on the trauma of the event, she remains optimistic as she adjusts to her new car and looks ahead to creating new memories. “It’s still very hard to even say the words. I watched an explosion behind me. You don’t hear that every day, so it’s kind of hard to even say that,” she added, underscoring the emotional toll the incident continues to take on her.
The NTSB’s investigation into the crash is ongoing, with a final report expected in about a year. As part of the investigation, safety recommendations will be made to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.