Russ Hiatt

Powell resident Russ Hiatt, 45, died early Sunday morning after a crash occurred at milepost 17 while traveling by motorcycle along Wyo. Highway 294 north of Powell.

According to a press release from Wyoming Highway Patrol, Hiatt was traveling south on a 2006 Harley Davidson through an open range area when the motorcycle struck a cow. The vehicle went off the road to the right and was corrected toward the left. It swerved off of the road once more and stopped at the bottom of an embankment, according to a report. 

Hiatt was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger — Debra M. Martin, 64 — was airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana. 

Hiatt was a Toyota technician apprentice at Yellowstone Motors in Powell.

Hiatt’s brother Randy describes Russ as a friend to all and a loving brother, uncle and father.

“Russ was well loved by everybody. He had more friends than anybody I’ve ever known, he never met a stranger and was always helping people. That’s probably why he had so many friends,” Randy said.

In addition to being Randy’s older brother, Hiatt was also a father figure in Randy’s life and once drove to Billings at 2 a.m. to help his brother repair pipes. It was not uncommon for Russ to go out of his way to help those in need.

“We both grew up without a dad, so not only was he my brother he was my dad, he taught me all the stuff a dad’s supposed to,” Randy said. 

A GoFundMe drive was started by Erin Woodie to help the Hiatt family. As of the writing of this article $3,475 had been raised, with all proceeds going to Russ’ son Dawson Hiatt. The intention is for Dawson to be able to use the funds for a memorial service and any other needs.

“Dawson Hiatt has experienced tremendous loss in the past year. He suddenly lost an aunt, his grandmother, Lea Ann and now his best friend and father, Russ. The last thing Rusty would want is his boy to struggle during his roughest days,” Woodie said.

Woodie is also working with Dawson and Nick Burke to design memorial patches produced by Sew Much More. The patches will be produced in limited quantity and sold at $7 a patch, with all proceeds also going toward Dawson.

“This community is so great at lifting each other up when they’re down,” Woodie said. “This is our time to help out an amazing kid in memory of an irreplaceable father and friend.”