HENRY’S LAKE, ID – A devastating collision between a tour bus and a pickup truck near Yellowstone National Park has claimed the lives of seven people and left eight others injured, Idaho State Police confirmed late Thursday. The fiery crash occurred on a highway in eastern Idaho, approximately 16 miles west of the popular national park, sending shockwaves through the local community and the tourism industry.
The incident, which took place just before 7:15 PM local time, involved a Dodge Ram pickup truck and a Mercedes passenger van carrying a tour group of 14 people. According to a press release from the Idaho State Police, both vehicles caught fire upon impact. The driver of the pickup truck and six occupants of the tour van tragically died at the scene.
Emergency responders, including air ambulances and paramedics, rushed to the location near Henry’s Lake State Park. The eight surviving occupants of the van sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The extent of their injuries has not yet been released.
Witnesses described a chaotic and horrific scene. Roger Merrill, 60, who was driving home at the time of the crash, recounted seeing flames engulfing both vehicles as bystanders desperately tried to assist survivors from the mangled van. He noted the highway, a main artery leading to Yellowstone’s west entrance, is often heavily trafficked, particularly by tourist vans.
“It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” Merrill told the Associated Press. “It’s extremely busy.” He also expressed concern about the time it took for emergency services to arrive, attributing it to the remote location.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased or injured, stating that they are still in the process of notifying their families. The nationalities and hometowns of those involved also remain undisclosed at this time. The cause of the collision is currently under investigation by the Idaho State Police.
The Fremont County coroner’s office has not yet released any information regarding the identification of the victims. Highway 20, where the crash occurred, was fully closed for several hours as emergency crews worked at the scene and investigators began their inquiry.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers on roadways leading to popular tourist destinations, especially during peak seasons. The highway where the crash occurred had an average daily traffic volume of approximately 10,500 vehicles in 2023, according to the Idaho Transportation Department, which has identified the route for potential safety improvements.
This incident marks the second fatal collision involving a vehicle and a passenger van on the same stretch of highway in Idaho in less than a year, raising further concerns about road safety in the area. The investigation into this latest tragedy is expected to be thorough and will likely examine factors such as speed, visibility, and the condition of the vehicles involved.
The news of the fatal crash has undoubtedly cast a pall over the communities near Yellowstone National Park and will likely prompt renewed discussions about highway safety measures in the region as the summer tourist season gets underway.