WYDOT has requested emergency federal relief money for the repair of the flood-damaged section of Wyoming Highway 130.

Public Affairs Officer Dave Kingham said WYDOT has requested funds specifically toward the section that was wiped out Tuesday morning. He said as of Wednesday, WYDOT is unsure of how much money it will take to repair the damage.  

WYDOT An emergency vehicle, which is responding to the area to assist in evacuating campgrounds because the flooding, also sits by washout, but the driver was able to escape unharmed.

WYDOT said the washout occurred when debris carried down by runoff from torrential rain clogged the drainage culvert at milepost 55.8, resulting in the water washing away the pavement surrounding the culvert.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, a van carrying five passengers drove into the washout early Tuesday morning, resulting in four fatalities.

The Associated Press reported that the Colorado Springs family was attempting to flee a nearby campground when they plunged into the gaping hole and were swept downstream, killing a woman and her three young daughters. 

Their husband and father, Alex Constantinides (kon-stan-tin-NEE’-deez), was the only member of the family to survive. 

 The Malcolm Wallop Fund for Conversations on Democracy hosted a student panel, “Emerging Democracies and their Struggle against Authoritarian Rule,” Monday in the Union East Ballroom.

One student from each country including Egypt, Libya, Iraq and Saudi Arabia led the discussion. 

“We were invited by the Dean to speak on the panel and I thought it was a great idea because it would give people the chance to learn more about what is going on in my country from a source other than the media,” Carol Hany Tadros, panel speaks from Cairo said. “I thought that being the voice for my country and representing it is the least I can do since I am not able to be there and participate in the protests. The future is very vague and we have a long road before we achieve democracy, but we are optimistic,” he added.