Idaho Tour Van Crash Claims Seven Lives
WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (AP) — Idaho State Police disclosed on Saturday that the driver of a tour van involved in a fatal collision with a pickup truck on Thursday was licensed in California. The tour was organized by Ctour Holiday LLC, a major international tour operator.
The crash, which occurred on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho, resulted in the deaths of seven people. The victims included the pickup truck driver, Isaih Moreno, 25, of Humble, Texas, and six passengers from the Mercedes van. The van was carrying 13 people — 12 Chinese nationals and one Italian — to Yellowstone National Park.
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco confirmed that five Chinese citizens were killed and eight were injured in the crash. The consulate quickly activated its emergency response mechanism to provide assistance to the injured and the families of the victims.
Three people were seriously injured in the crash. Two were airlifted to a hospital in Idaho Falls, while one was taken to a hospital in Bozeman, Montana. Police stated that due to privacy concerns, they would not release information about the medical status of the injured.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with police working closely with Ctour Holiday and in contact with the Chinese and Italian consulates. The bodies of the victims are to be transported to the Ada County Coroner’s Office for autopsies and formal identification.
Ctour Holiday has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.
