A tragic collision between a tour van and a pickup truck occurred near Yellowstone National Park on Thursday evening, resulting in the deaths of seven people and injuring eight others. The incident took place around 7:15 PM on US Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho. The Idaho State Police reported that the crash involved a Dodge Ram pickup truck and a Mercedes van, which was carrying 14 tourists. Both vehicles caught fire after the collision. The driver of the pickup truck and six passengers in the van died at the scene, while the remaining eight occupants were rushed to nearby hospitals. “The severity of the injuries prompted the dispatch of one air ambulance along with additional air and ground support,” the police stated in a news release. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police and Fremont County authorities. Highway 20 was temporarily closed following the incident but was later reopened. Witness Roger Merrill described the scene, saying, “It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It’s extremely busy.” The identities of the victims had not been released at the time of reporting, as next-of-kin notifications were still ongoing.
