The Wyoming Highway Patrol says the Casper man killed last Thursday afternoon when he drove through a stop sign and collided with a garbage truck was a Chadron native.
44-year old Rocky Vaughan suffered fatal injuries when he was ejected as his pickup struck the garbage truck. The truck driver suffered minor injuries.
The Highway Patrol says the road was dry and the weather was clear, so it believes driver inattention, cell phone use, or a possible medical condition could be contributing factors. The investigation continues.
Rocky Vaughan had recently left his job of 7 years as a counselor at the Harmony Hill School, which provides clinically-specialized programming and services to young people with social, emotional, behavioral and learning needs. He had also served as an EMT and a security officer.
Vaughan graduated from Chadron State College in 1998 with a BA in Theater Design and Technology. He acted and worked tech in several plays and was part of the cast and crew at the Fort Robinson Post Playhouse.
His mother Charlotte Vaughan, who works at Chadron Community Hospital and served at various times as a costumer at the college and Playhouse, says services for Rocky are pending.