Highway crash leads to drug arrests

Gage Vauthier of Gillette and Carylynn Henderson of Newcastle face possession of a controlled substance charges after meth and marijuana were allegedly found when they crashed on the highway in Crook County.

On May 4, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was notified by dispatch at around 5:30 p.m. that a subject was walking east on U.S. Hwy 16 and a single vehicle crash had taken place near milepost 210.

The trooper arrived at the scene and observed Henderson on foot, traveling west. She allegedly appeared to be attempting to hitchhike.

Henderson allegedly told the trooper she was not the driver of the vehicle, who had left the scene traveling east. The trooper asked her to remain in place as EMS was en route.

The trooper observed a vehicle around 100 feet south of the highway with damage consistent with a rollover crash. He reports then traveling east to approximately milepost 214 but was unable to locate anyone walking.

The trooper returned to the crash scene and placed Henderson in the passenger seat of his patrol vehicle. He asked questions about the driver of the crashed vehicle.

Henderson allegedly stated that Vauthier had received a ride heading east. Describing the crash, she allegedly said she had originally been driving but had become tired, at which time Vauthier took over while she fell asleep. According to Henderson, she had been using Vauthier for a ride to Newcastle.

Henderson claimed she woke up when the vehicle was nearly off the road in the oncoming lane of travel. She allegedly yelled at Vauthier, at which he swerved back into the correct lane.

According to court reports, Henderson stated that Vauthier had used marijuana earlier in the day but said she had not consumed any alcohol or controlled substances. She then allegedly began to eat a breakfast pastry, which the trooper found strange.

The trooper reports asking Henderson if she was diabetic, at which she giggled and said she was not and a passerby had given her the pastry. EMS then arrived on scene and evaluated her.

According to the trooper’s affidavit, multiple law enforcement units were searching the area for the driver. The trooper examined the roadway evidence and vehicle damage and noticed a glass smoking pipe in the vehicle.

Inside the vehicle, he allegedly found a marijuana grinder, a container with “substantial” marijuana shake and two baggies of what he believed to be crystal meth. A short time later, Vauthier was arrested in Weston County for possession of a controlled substance (less than 3 oz) and failure to report a crash, as well as an active Wyoming warrant.

The trooper reports that he met with Henderson on May 6 at the WYDOT Driver Services parking area in Gillette to return her identification and she agreed to answer a few follow-up questions. She allegedly stated she knew Vauthier through his mother and had been walking in the Newcastle area when he agreed to provide her a ride.

Henderson allegedly claimed medical reasons for becoming tired while driving the vehicle and said she was unaware of what transpired prior to the crash. According to court reports, she said she was aware of a troubled maintenance history with the vehicle, which she believed had been borrowed.

Henderson allegedly claimed to be unaware of Vauthier’s use of controlled substance and denied any personal use. When the trooper informed her of the controlled substances found and the charges Vauthier had been leveled, she allegedly appeared upset but he did not observe any physical signs of genuine emotions. Henderson did not agree to undergo a urine test.

On May 13, the trooper reports that he contacted the State of Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division in an attempt to trace the purchase of the dispensary products located in the vehicle. The information allegedly showed Henderson to be the original purchaser of the plastic joint container, which had been located in the vehicle in close proximity to the meth.

The items had allegedly been purchased at separate dispensaries near Grand Junction on May 3. Photos allegedly also showed Vauthier to be in Henderson’s company at the time of purchase, but he was denied service due to an invalid ID.

In Crook County, Henderson and Vauthier both face a felony charge of possession, carrying a maximum penalty of seven years of incarceration, a $15,000 fine or both.

Vauthier also faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, failing to drive within a single lane, leaving the scene of an accident, lack of auto insurance and possession of a controlled substance.