CHEYENNE, Wyoming — On a chilly Thursday evening that would change lives, 79-year-old John Lemmons of Cheyenne was killed when another vehicle blew through a stop sign and slammed into his car at the intersection of Powderhouse Road and East Riding Club Road. The crash happened around 5:58 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026, according to the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, which is still investigating the case.
Neighbors heard the sickening crunch just as rush-hour drivers were heading home. Lemmons was driving west on East Riding Club Road when an SUV traveling northbound on Powderhouse failed to stop and struck the left side of his vehicle in what officials described as a classic T-bone collision. The impact was so severe, the SUV rolled by the roadside.
First responders rushed to the scene. Fire crews and medics fought through cold air and fading light to aid the victims. Lemmons, badly injured in the collision, was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency efforts. The SUV’s driver and their passenger were also hurt and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials say no signs of impairment were reported at the time of the crash.
For many in Cheyenne, John Lemmons wasn’t just another name on a police report. He was someone who waved at neighbors, greeted strangers with a nod, and embodied the slow-paced warmth of small-town life. Friends and family are now left piecing together memories — a shared laugh, a wave across the street, a lifetime of ordinary moments that now feel suddenly rare.
Local motorists have long worried about that stretch of road. In the hours since the crash, social media threads have swelled with calls for better safety measures at the intersection — flashing stop signs, clearer markings, and stronger speed enforcement. Officials have acknowledged those concerns and say they will bring them to the attention of county road crews and the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
This tragedy marks the first reported traffic fatality on Laramie County roads this year. Sheriff’s Office spokespersons noted that while fatal crashes happen each year — with counts varying widely — none in recent memory occurred at this exact intersection. The exact charges related to the crash have not yet been announced as investigators continue to sift through evidence.
In the days since the collision, messages of support and sorrow have poured in from across Cheyenne. People are sharing photos, stories, and simple words of comfort for the Lemmons family. In quiet living rooms and around kitchen tables, the community is struggling to make sense of a sudden loss, bound together by grief and shared hope that something positive — like safer roads — might rise out of this heartbreak.
