Ryan Cummings learned some valuable lessons earlier this summer.
The Wyoming sophomore offensive lineman was driving from his home in the Denver area back to Laramie. He was on U.S. Highway 287 when a powerful rain storm hit.

Ryan Cummings
“I couldn’t see out my windshield,” Cummings said. “I’m driving down this hill and my truck started going sideways out of no where. I went onto the opposite side of the road facing the other direction. I missed a semi-truck by about 20 yards and then ended up in a ditch. It wasn’t dry enough where my truck could roll.”
Cummings wasn’t wearing a seat belt, and the air bags didn’t go off. Cummings broke his nose and split his lip all the way to his nose that required stitches.
I’m lucky to be here.”
“I’m lucky to be here and thankful I’m here. I praise God that he was looking over me,” Cummings said.
U.S. 287 harbors some painful memories for UW athletics. On Sept. 6, 2010 then UW true freshman linebacker Ruben Narcisse died in an automobile accident on that highway. That accident involved three other UW football players who survived.
Of course, there was the eight members of the UW track and cross-country team that died on that highway on Sept. 16, 2001 due to an accident with a drunk driver.
There have been plenty of other stories I’ve been told from UW athletics officials who have had close calls on that stretch of road.
“It’s a caution for me to always wear your seat belt, always take it easy in bad road conditions and be smart wherever I go,” Cummings said.
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