BOISE, Idaho — A devastating crash on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho has claimed seven lives and injured eight others. The collision occurred just before 7:15 p.m. Thursday when a Dodge Ram pickup truck traveling westbound collided head-on with a Mercedes van carrying 14 foreign tourists heading east toward Yellowstone National Park.
The impact was severe, causing both vehicles to catch fire. The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno from Humble, Texas, was among the fatalities. Six passengers in the Mercedes van also lost their lives, while eight others were rushed to nearby hospitals with varying degrees of injury.
Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye revealed that the six victims in the van were foreign nationals, with at least two confirmed to be from Italy. China’s Consulate General in San Francisco reported that five Chinese citizens were among the dead, and eight were injured, although the discrepancy between these figures and those provided by local authorities remains unclear.
The van, carrying a tour group, was transporting 14 people when the accident occurred. Two injured passengers were airlifted to hospitals in Idaho Falls, while another was taken to a hospital in Bozeman, Montana. The remaining injured were treated at local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
Eyewitness Roger Merrill, who witnessed the crash while driving home, described the scene as chaotic, with bystanders attempting to aid survivors as the vehicles burned. ‘It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,’ Merrill said. ‘It’s extremely busy.’
The crash is under investigation, with authorities yet to determine the cause of the collision. Idaho Governor Brad Little expressed condolences and pledged cooperation between state and local officials to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The Idaho Transportation Department had previously identified this stretch of highway as a candidate for safety improvements due to its high traffic volume — averaging 10,500 vehicles daily in 2023 — but the project remains in the planning phase.
