A devastating crash between a tour van and a pickup truck on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake in eastern Idaho has claimed seven lives. The Idaho State Police reported that the collision occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
The Mercedes passenger van, carrying 14 people on a tour organized by Ctour Holiday LLC, was traveling eastbound toward Yellowstone National Park when it collided head-on with a westbound Dodge Ram pickup truck carrying one person. The impact resulted in a catastrophic fire that engulfed both vehicles.
Six passengers in the van, all foreign nationals, and the pickup truck driver died in the crash. The van passengers included 12 Chinese nationals and one Italian national. The pickup truck driver was identified as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno from Humble, Texas.
Local resident Roger Merrill, who witnessed the aftermath, described the scene as having ‘catastrophic damage to both vehicles.’ He noted that the fire didn’t start immediately but spread rapidly within minutes, engulfing both vehicles.
The Idaho State Police are investigating the cause of the crash. The U.S. Highway 20 was closed for nearly seven hours following the incident but has since reopened.
The survivors of the crash were transported to nearby hospitals, with some receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco has activated its emergency mechanism to assist the families of the victims.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Idaho State Police working closely with Ctour Holiday LLC and the relevant consulates.
