A devastating crash occurred on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho on Thursday evening, resulting in seven fatalities and eight injuries. The collision involved a westbound Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by 25-year-old Isaih Moreno from Humble, Texas, and an eastbound Mercedes van carrying 14 foreign tourists, including two from Italy. The crash happened just before 7:15 p.m. in clear weather conditions, with both vehicles catching fire upon impact. The van was headed toward Yellowstone National Park, which is about 16 miles east of the crash site.
The Idaho State Police reported that the truck driver and six occupants of the van died in the crash. The victims from the van were part of a tour group, and their identities are pending DNA confirmation due to the severity of their injuries. Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye confirmed that all six deceased from the van were foreign nationals, with two identified as being from Italy. The surviving eight occupants were hospitalized with injuries, two of whom were flown to Idaho Falls, and one to Bozeman, Montana.
Witness Roger Merrill, who was driving home at the time, described seeing flames engulf both vehicles and bystanders attempting to aid survivors. He noted that the highway is particularly dangerous due to its connection to Yellowstone’s main entrance and high traffic volume. ‘It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,’ Merrill said. ‘It’s extremely busy.’ Merrill’s video footage showed the wreckage with the van enveloped in smoke. He expressed concern about the delayed response time due to the remote location.
Idaho Governor Brad Little expressed condolences and stated that the state is working with local officials to investigate the cause of the crash. The Idaho Transportation Department had previously identified this section of the highway for potential safety improvements due to its high traffic volume – averaging 10,500 vehicles daily in 2023 – though the project remains in the planning phase. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
