A devastating crash near Yellowstone National Park earlier this month has been attributed to a drunk driver, authorities confirmed. The collision occurred on May 1 when a pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a tour van, causing both vehicles to burst into flames.
The incident took place at approximately 7:15 p.m. local time near Henry’s Lake in Island Park, Idaho, about 20 miles from the national park. The crash resulted in the deaths of seven people, including the pickup truck driver and six passengers from the tour van.
According to the Idaho State Police, the 25-year-old driver of the pickup truck, identified as Isaih Moreno from Humble, Texas, had a blood alcohol content of 0.20% – more than twice the legal limit of 0.08%. Moreno was determined to be at fault in the collision.
The tour van, operated by Ctour Holiday LLC, was on an excursion to Yellowstone National Park at the time of the crash. Among the victims were 12 Chinese citizens and one Italian citizen. The deceased were identified as Ivana Wen from Milan, Italy; Jianping Li, Li Nie, Aifeng Wan, Xiaoming Jiang, and Yu Zhang, who was the driver of the tour van; and Isaih Moreno, the pickup truck driver.
The crash shut down Highway 20 for about seven hours and required a significant response from emergency services, including an air ambulance. Bystanders and a Fremont County sheriff’s deputy assisted injured passengers as the van caught fire.
This tragic incident occurred just before Idaho’s ‘100 Deadliest Days,’ a period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities typically increase due to summer travel and impaired driving. Alcohol remains the leading cause of traffic deaths in Idaho.
“This tragedy should be a wake-up call,” said Captain Chris Weadick of the Idaho State Police. “Impaired driving isn’t just illegal – it’s deadly. If you see someone unfit to drive, speak up. Lives depend on it.”
