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 tourists, including two from Italy, traveling toward Yellowstone National Park.
The crash happened just before 7:15 p.m. under clear weather conditions, with both vehicles catching fire upon impact. All occupants of the van were part of a tour group, with six fatalities among them. The identities of the deceased foreign nationals are pending DNA confirmation due to the severe condition of their bodies.
The surviving eight occupants were hospitalized with injuries, two of whom were flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls and one 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 highway as “very dangerous” due to its connection to Yellowstone’s main entrance. He noted the delayed arrival of first responders due to the remote location, although police later clarified that a Fremont County sheriff’s deputy arrived promptly and assisted injured passengers alongside bystanders.
Idaho Governor Brad Little expressed his commitment to investigating the cause of the tragedy. The Idaho Transportation Department had previously identified this highway section for potential safety improvements, though the project remains in the planning phase. The highway sees an average daily traffic of about 10,500 vehicles.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the cause of the collision.
