Tragic Collision Near Yellowstone Claims Seven Lives
BOISE, Idaho — A serious accident on a highway leading to Yellowstone National Park has resulted in seven fatalities and left eight individuals injured, according to Idaho State Police.
The collision occurred shortly before 7:15 p.m. on Thursday along U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park, located approximately 16 miles west of Yellowstone. An initial report revealed that a Dodge Ram truck was heading west while a Mercedes van was traveling east when the accident happened. Weather conditions were clear at the time.
Both vehicles subsequently caught fire. The truck’s driver, 25-year-old Isaih Moreno from Humble, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene, along with six passengers from the van. Identifying the victims will take some time, as police continue to investigate.
The van was transporting a group of 14, and those who survived were rushed to local hospitals, with some sustaining serious injuries. Two individuals were airlifted to a hospital in Idaho Falls, while another was flown to Bozeman, Montana. The conditions of these individuals remain undisclosed, though the injuries of the remaining survivors are not believed to be life-threatening.
Witnesses, including Roger Merrill, who was driving nearby, expressed concern about the dangers of this particular highway, noting its heavy traffic as it serves as a main route to Yellowstone. Merrill described the scene of the accident, recalling how bystanders rushed to aid survivors while waiting for emergency responders.
“It’s a very dangerous highway,” he commented. “It’s extremely busy.” He added that it took quite some time for first responders to arrive due to the remote location of the crash.
The Idaho Transportation Department had already identified this stretch of road for potential safety improvements aimed at mitigating the severity of accidents. However, those plans are still in the research and planning stages, with an average of about 10,500 vehicles traveling that highway daily in 2023.
The investigation into the cause of this tragic incident is ongoing, as authorities work to gather more information and support the affected families during this difficult time.
