Mom of 2 Killed in Tragic Car Crash While Picking Up Her Father from Church: ‘She Truly Did Put Other People First’ 

A tragic wrong-way collision in Casper, Wyoming, has claimed the life of 43-year-old Mandy Butler, a mother of two, while also leaving her father critically injured.

On Friday, Nov. 7, Mandy left home to pick up her father, Randy Butler, 77, from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he worked as an ordinance worker, according to her brother, Dude Butler.

Later that evening, Dude — who had just received a distressed call from Mandy’s 10-year-old son saying she hadn’t returned home — collected both of Mandy’s sons, ages 10 and 4, to bring them to safety. Shortly after, he was notified that Mandy and Randy had been taken to the hospital.

Upon arrival, the family learned that Mandy had died on the operating table. Randy was in critical condition and facing a long road to recovery.

Police say officers were dispatched shortly after 9:00 p.m. to the 5300 block of CY Avenue following reports of a serious crash. Authorities confirmed that a Nissan passenger car traveling eastbound in the westbound lane collided head-on with Mandy’s Toyota SUV, which had been traveling the correct direction.

A press release from the Casper Police Department noted that alcohol is being investigated as a possible factor in the crash, adding that appropriate charges will be recommended once the investigation is complete.

Dude shared that Mandy’s children are devastated — her oldest son “heartbroken,” and her younger child repeatedly asking for his mother. A GoFundMe has been established to help support the boys as they grow up, with Dude describing Mandy as someone who always put others first. “She was really empathetic, an empath if you will… and she could just make you roll for hours with her sense of humor,” he said.

While the family is handling funeral costs, they are also creating a trust for the children’s future needs.

As plans for Mandy’s funeral move forward, the family continues to await updates on Randy’s condition. Doctors have expressed concern and expect multiple surgeries will be needed to treat significant spinal, hip, and femur injuries.

In a public statement, the Casper Police Department emphasized the heartbreaking consequences of impaired driving, calling the crash “a devastating reminder of the dangers and irreversible consequences” that come from driving under the influence.