A fatal highway crash close to Yellowstone National Park killed seven people and injured eight others, Idaho State Police confirmed. The accident happened at about 7:15 p.m. on Thursday on US Highway 20 east of Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho, some 26 km west of Yellowstone.
The accident involved a westbound Dodge Ram pickup truck and an eastbound Mercedes tour van bound for the park. The reason for the accident is still under investigation, although weather was said to have been clear at the time. Both vehicles erupted into flames after the collision.
Among the victims was the pickup driver, whose name was given as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno of Humble, Texas. Six of the van occupants died as well, all foreign nationals. Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye said their names will need to be confirmed with DNA because the burns were so extensive. San Francisco’s consulate in China stated that five of the victims were Chinese citizens and eight other Chinese nationals were hurt.
The van had a 14-member tour group inside. Two of the injured were flown to an Idaho Falls hospital and one to a Montana facility. Others were taken to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Bystanders attempted to aid survivors before emergency personnel arrived. One witness, Roger Merrill, who captured video of the wreckage, noted the area’s remoteness and the highway’s high tourist traffic made the wait for help feel excruciatingly long.
One of the first responders was a Fremont County sheriff’s deputy who helped rescue passengers. Idaho Governor Brad Little issued condolences and said the state is collaborating with local authorities to figure out the cause of the tragedy.
The Idaho Transportation Department already had this highway in its sights for safety upgrades, but they are still in the planning process.
