HENRY’S LAKE, Idaho — A fiery crash near Yellowstone National Park claimed seven lives Thursday evening after a tourist-filled van collided with a pickup truck on a treacherous stretch of Idaho highway, igniting a massive blaze that left bystanders scrambling to save survivors before the wreck was engulfed in flames.
Idaho State Police confirmed Friday that six passengers aboard the van and the driver of the red pickup truck were killed in the collision, which occurred just after 7:15 p.m. near Henry’s Lake State Park, roughly 16 miles from the entrance to Yellowstone. The van had been transporting 14 tourists when it crashed into the pickup on U.S. Highway 20, a route locals describe as perilous during peak travel seasons.
Eight other individuals were rushed to area hospitals via air ambulance due to the severity of their injuries. Among the survivors rescued from the inferno was a child, officials said.
Heroic witnesses pulled the eight survivors from the wreckage moments before the van was engulfed by fire. Dramatic footage from the scene shows emergency crews battling a towering inferno, with charred debris scattered across the two-lane road. Authorities closed the highway in both directions into early Friday morning to allow investigators and emergency teams to work safely.
The driver of the van, identified by police as 25-year-old Isaiah Moreno, was among those killed. According to Beijing’s state media, five of the victims were Chinese nationals. The local coroner also confirmed that Italian tourists were among the deceased, although the full list of nationalities has not yet been publicly released pending formal identification and notification of families.
Law enforcement officials have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash, which has reignited concerns over safety on Highway 20—an increasingly congested route known for connecting travelers to the world-famous Yellowstone National Park.
Local resident Roger Merrill told CBS News that he witnessed flames shooting into the sky as he passed the scene on his way home. He described Highway 20 as “extremely busy” this time of year, saying the road’s narrow lanes and heavy traffic from tourists make it a notoriously dangerous route.
“It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” Merrill said.
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office has urged drivers to avoid the area and prepare for long delays through the weekend as the investigation continues and crews work to clear debris.
The devastating crash came during an already tragic week for U.S. roadways. Earlier in the week, three children and a teenager were killed when a vehicle plowed into an after-school camp in Chatham, Illinois, injuring six others. That incident remains under investigation as authorities grapple with back-to-back highway tragedies.
Thursday’s crash near Yellowstone highlights the mounting risks faced by travelers on rural highways that have seen sharp increases in seasonal traffic and underscores renewed calls for improved safety infrastructure on major tourist routes.
