A devastating crash occurred on Thursday evening near Yellowstone National Park in Idaho, resulting in the deaths of seven people when a tour van collided with a pickup truck on U.S. Highway 20. The Idaho State Police reported that both vehicles caught fire after the collision.
The tour van, identified as a Mercedes carrying 14 people, was traveling with 12 Chinese nationals, an Italian national, and a driver. Six occupants of the van were among the fatalities. The sole occupant of the pickup truck, a 25-year-old man from Texas named Isaiah Moreno, was also killed.
The crash happened just before 7:15 p.m. near Henry’s Lake, a popular recreational spot about 15 miles from Yellowstone. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the authorities.
Due to the severity of the injuries, the State Police summoned an air ambulance and additional air and ground resources to respond to the incident. The Fremont County coroner, Brenda Dye, confirmed Moreno’s identity and stated that DNA testing was required to identify the victims in the van as their bodies were unrecognizable.
Chinese state media, referencing the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, reported that Chinese citizens were among the deceased. The consulate has requested that U.S. authorities share the investigation findings and provide assistance to the families of the victims.
Witnesses reported that two individuals on the highway stopped to assist by pulling people from the smoking van. They managed to rescue eight occupants, including a child, before the van was engulfed in flames.
The crash led to the closure of U.S. Highway 20 for nearly seven hours as emergency responders and the Idaho Transportation Department worked to clear the scene and reopen the roadway.
The incident has drawn attention to road safety near popular tourist destinations like Yellowstone National Park.
