Fatal Crash Near Yellowstone National Park Claims Seven Lives
A devastating collision between a tour van and a pickup truck on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho has resulted in seven fatalities. The crash occurred on Thursday evening as the tour group was en route to Yellowstone National Park.
According to Idaho State Police, the driver of the tour van was licensed in California, and the trip was organized by Ctour Holiday LLC, a large international tour operator. The pickup truck driver, identified as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno from Humble, Texas, was among the dead.
The van, a Mercedes, was carrying 13 passengers – 12 Chinese nationals and one Italian – in addition to the driver. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco confirmed that five Chinese citizens were killed and eight were injured. The consulate promptly activated its emergency response mechanism to assist the injured and the families of the victims.
The crash remains under investigation, with police working closely with Ctour Holiday and in contact with the Chinese and Italian consulates. The bodies of the deceased are to be transported to the Ada County Coroner’s Office for autopsies and formal identification.
Three individuals 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. Information about their conditions has not been released due to privacy considerations.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. Authorities have not disclosed whether the van driver was among the fatalities.
