ISLAND PARK — A devastating crash near Henry’s Lake State Park on Thursday evening left seven people dead and several others injured when a tour van and pickup truck collided and burst into flames on U.S. Highway 20, Idaho State Police confirmed.
The collision occurred just before 7:15 p.m. on a stretch of road about 16 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. A Dodge Ram truck travelling westbound collided with an eastbound Mercedes van carrying 14 people—part of a tour group en route to Yellowstone.
Both vehicles were quickly engulfed in flames following the crash. The driver of the truck, identified as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno of Humble, Texas, was killed along with six people in the passenger van. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those killed in the van, citing the time needed for proper identification.
Of the 14 people in the van, 12 were Chinese nationals and one was Italian, police said. The tour was organised by Ctour Holiday LLC, a California-based company specialising in international travel.
The surviving seven occupants were transported to various hospitals. Two were flown to Idaho Falls, one to Bozeman, Montana, and others to nearby facilities. Their conditions remain unknown, though most injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
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“The consulate expressed deep condolences for the dead and sincere sympathy to the injured and the families of those affected,” China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported. It added that consular officials were in contact with family members and offering assistance.
Eyewitness Roger Merrill, 60, was driving nearby when he saw the aftermath. “It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” Merrill said.
He described the scene as chaotic and noted the long wait for emergency responders due to the remote location.
A Fremont County sheriff’s deputy arrived shortly after the crash and, with the help of bystanders, began assisting injured victims before the van was fully engulfed.
The crash remains under investigation. Video from the scene showed clear weather conditions at the time, but police have not released a cause.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little expressed condolences in a social media post, pledging state support for the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Idaho Transportation Department noted that safety improvements had already been proposed for that stretch of Highway 20, which sees an average of 10,500 vehicles per day. However, those upgrades remain in the planning phase.