Hot Springs man killed as motor home crashes into storefront

By The Associated Press

An Arkansas man was killed when a motor home lost its brakes and crashed into a storefront in downtown Buffalo.

The crash happened around 4:45 p.m. Thursday. The Wyoming Highway Patrol estimates the motor home was going 50 mph when it came to a T-shaped intersection and crashed into the building.

The patrol said 73-year-old James D. Stark, of Hot Springs, Ark., died at the scene. His wife, 68-year-old Saralee Stark, was taken to Wyoming Medical Center in Casper.

Stark was listed in stable condition at the hospital on Friday.

According to the patrol, the Starks were headed downhill from Powder River Pass on U.S. Highway 16 when their brakes began to overheat. James Stark pulled over to give the brakes time to cool off, but the brakes went out after the couple got back on the road.

Stark swerved into and out of traffic to avoid a collision. Along the way, the motor home clipped the rear of a pickup truck. The couple inside the pickup weren't hurt.

The motor home crashed where the highway intersected with Main Street. The motor home came to rest inside the building.

Seven buildings away from the crash scene, the hostess of the Sol de Vallarta restaurant told the Casper Star-Tribune that she didn't hear the crash as she was opening for business.

"I noticed something when I saw the police cars," Maria Apriluh said.