7 people killed near Yellowstone National Park after truck and tour van collide, police say
A horrific collision between a pickup truck and a tour van near Yellowstone National Park resulted in seven fatalities and eight injuries. The crash occurred on US Highway 20 near Henrys Lake State Park, with the Dodge Ram truck traveling west and the Mercedes van heading east. Both vehicles caught fire after the impact, and despite clear weather conditions, the cause of the crash remains under investigation. The van was part of a tour group, and the injured were transported to hospitals, some in critical condition. The highway, identified for future safety improvements, sees heavy traffic due to its proximity to Yellowstone, complicating rescue efforts due to its remote location.
The collision took place just before 7:15 p.m. on a busy highway leading to Yellowstone National Park, leaving seven people dead, including the driver of the Dodge Ram, Isaih Moreno, and six passengers from the tour van.
The crash site was located near Henrys Lake State Park, approximately 16 miles west of Yellowstone, and both vehicles burst into flames immediately after the impact.
Of the tour group's 14 passengers, eight survived and were taken to hospitals with varying degrees of injuries, while some were airlifted due to the severity of their conditions.
Roger Merrill, a passerby who witnessed the accident, noted the dangerous nature of the highway due to its role as a main entrance to Yellowstone, highlighting the delayed response time of first responders due to the remote location.
The Idaho Transportation Department has plans for safety improvements on this stretch of highway, which averages about 10,500 vehicles daily, but these measures are still in the planning stages.
Police and emergency services were aided by bystanders who helped rescue injured passengers from the van amidst the chaos of the burning vehicles.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing, with authorities working to identify the victims and determine the precise cause of the crash, while weather conditions were reported as clear at the time of the incident.