A 27-year-old Montana man was killed during a car accident north of Casper, Wyoming, earlier this month. The driver suspected of causing the crash could face 20 years or more in prison in connection with the incident, having been charged with a single count of aggravated vehicular homicide. Three other people, two children and an adult woman were also injured in the collision.

Incident reports show that the suspect was driving behind the victim, who was operating a Ford truck that was hauling a trailer. The suspect reportedly rear-ended the driver of the truck, perhaps because he was going too slow, according to investigators. The collision caused the driver of the Ford to lose control of the vehicle, slamming into the median and rolling over on its top in the oncoming lane of Interstate 25. The accident occurred at about 3 p.m., according to official reports.

The driver of the Ford was pronounced dead at the scene, and the three other victims were taken to the Wyoming Medical Center. The children have been released from the hospital, but reports show that the woman is still under treatment in that facility.

The suspect in the case has admitted that the incident was accidental, and he has promised not to flee the charges. He has been released on a $50,000 bond, and he is only permitted to leave the state in order to go to work in North Dakota.

In this case, the man could face not only the hefty criminal charges and fines that accompany such an accident, but he could also be subjected to civil claims in connection with the crash. It is not clear whether the man and woman in the Ford were married. If so, the surviving family members could submit a claim for loss of income if the man contributed to the household finances.

In addition, family members of the deceased could sue the driver for pain and suffering in connection with their injuries.

Source: The Billings Gazette, “Butte man dies, children injured in Wyoming crash,” Megan Cassidy, Oct. 22, 2012.