The steep grade of U.S. Highway 16 claims both the lives - and the brakes - of many travelers each year. Locals have dubbed a section of it "Dead Man's Curve" and for good reason – there have been three deaths near mile post 85 and on the 14 miles of highway before it and more than 200 accidents since 2001.
On April 1, a Texas man lost control of his semi-trailer rig and crashed through the guardrail, plunging some 300 feet into Clear Creek near the Mozier Gulch Picnic Area, after passing not one, but two runaway truck ramps. Oscar L. Vizcarra, of Lewisville, Texas, burned through his brakes coming down the mountain, according to Sgt. Stephen Townsend of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and died at the scene. Stories like this are too common on this section of the fated highway.
In 2004, the Wyoming Department of Transportation installed a state-of-the-art runaway truck ramp based on the military's aircraft carrier technology. The ramp, less than a mile from "Dead Man's Curve," is the most used of its kind in the world.
More info:
http://www.buffalobulletin.com/news/local_news/article_b3088df8-ea17-595d-b96e-14ea85b8a164.html
Another link below with pics of trucks/vehicles who have used the aircraft style Runaway truck ramp and the wrecks at dead mans curve of those who did not use the ramp systems in place along highway 16.
http://www.wyoroad.info/Highway/RunawayTruckRampInfo2012.pdf
