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Three killed in two rural accidents

By Amber Peabody


This document was published online on Monday, October 13, 2008

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Two weather-related accidents in rural Park County on Friday resulted in three deaths.

Ashton Lewandowski Schlenker, 21, died Saturday morning at West Park Hospital following a two-vehicle accident near Meeteetse on Friday.

Lambert “Pete” Peterson, 69, and his wife Carol Ann Peterson, 54, of Powell, died Friday, following an accident near Ralston.

Schlenker, a student at Northwest College, was nine miles north of Meeteetse on WYO 120 about 6:30 p.m. Friday when she lost control of her vehicle and collided with Danny Gotcher, 55, and Daren Gotcher, 48, of Fredericksburg, Texas.

Daren was hospitalized at West Park Hospital.

Road conditions at the time were icy with snowfall and blowing snow. Schlenker was southbound in a 2002 Pontiac when her vehicle spun into the northbound lane. Gotcher attempted to brake his 2008 Ford truck to avoid the collision but the right rear of the Schlenker vehicle was struck in the middle of the road.

The impact pushed Schlenker's vehicle into the guardrail on the east side of the road, with Gotcher's vehicle came to rest in the middle of the road. Upon impact airbags deployed in both vehicles. All three were wearing seat belts.

WYO 120 was closed for two hours following the crash.

The Petersons were passengers in a vehicle driven by Raymond Nardini, 56, of Powell when he lost control of his vehicle and was struck by Peter Carmon, 35, of Cody. The accident occurred at 8:10 p.m. about 11 miles southwest of Powell on US 14A.

Roads in the area were dry with areas of black ice with snowfall. Carmon's 2007 Dodge minivan was westbound, while Nardini was eastbound in a 2007 Nissan Murano on a straight stretch when he encountered black ice. He lost control of the vehicle and crossed the center line.

The Carmon vehicle struck Nardini broadside in the passenger side. Front airbags deployed in both vehicles, as did the side airbags in the Nardini vehicle.

Lambert died at the scene while Carol Ann was taken to Powell Valley Hospital and died later that evening. Raymond and Linda Nardini, 55, of Powell were both hospitalized at Powell Valley Hospital.

Carmon was not injured but passenger Tawnya Carmon, 33, of Cody was hospitalized at WPH. All six were wearing seat belts.

US 14A was closed for two hours because of the crash.
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Reader Comments

Jenny Hanley Batt wrote on Oct 24, 2008 1:09 PM:

" Ashton's dad was one of my High school teachers in Harrison. I babysat Ashton when she was little. All of us kids loved Ashton, she was an adorable little girl. Bob and Deb are wonderful people. we spent a lot of time with them at speech meets. May God help them through this tragedy and comfort them to know that Ashton is with God now, Watching over them and her husband. "

Donna Schuette wrote on Oct 15, 2008 10:44 AM:

" I must make a couple corrections, please. According to Linda Nardini, she was not wearing her seatbelt (the only one not to be) and slid across the seat towards Carol. This is how she dislocated her hip.

Official records show that the impact occurred at 9:10pm, which was verified by the time that Pete's watch had stopped.

It has been a very hard thing to deal with the death of both my sister, Carol, and her husband, Pete. The great outpouring of love and caring shown to the families has been appreciated. Our tears are eased by all who have expressed their sorrow.

Thank one and all. "

Luther Family wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:26 PM:

" Ashton, we will miss you dearly! Our hearts are with the Lewandowski and Schlenker families. "

Harvey wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:29 PM:

" There is much debate over loss of control accidents with various opinions from experts and the public. What the average person and some experts are not aware of is that there can be as high as 950 pounds or more weight on the front axle of their vehicle than the back. So a car that feels like a limousine on the front holds like a golf cart on the back.
If you analyze single vehicle accidents you will find most of them had better tires on the front than the back or a very large weight difference. In fact the worst balanced cars have 4 times as many fatalities as cars designed with better balance. How are you going to tell how fast is too fast under these conditions when it is possible for a balanced car to handle fine on a slippery surface at 50 mph and an unbalanced car to loose control at 20 mph and both to feel the same to the drivers. "

Kenneth Allen wrote on Oct 13, 2008 4:31 PM:

" Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have passed. We will miss you Ashton, and hope one day we'll meet again. Prayers are out with families.
God Bless,
Kenneth Allen "

 

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