Devastation on the road to Yellowstone: What we know so far

A deadly car accident occurred near Yellowstone National Park on Thursday night that left seven dead and eight injured. Just before 7:15 p.m., a pickup truck and a tour van collided on US Highway 20 near Henrys Lake State Park in eastern Idaho, leading to the park. Here’s what we know about the accident so far.

Tragic crash near Yellowstone sparks urgent questions

The Dodge Ram truck was driving west on the highway and the Mercedes tour van was traveling east when they crashed head-on, causing both vehicles to catch fire. The van was carrying 14 people.

The truck driver, 25-year-old Isaih Moreno from Humble, Texas, along with six passengers inside the van were killed. The survivors from the van were taken to hospitals to treat injuries - some serious - sustained in the crash.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as bystanders tried to help the victims while they waited for emergency responders to arrive.

“It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” said witness Roger Merrill, who was driving home at the time. “It’s extremely busy. It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location.”

The weather was clear at the time of the crash and the cause is still under investigation. The Idaho Transportation Department has identified the highway for future safety improvements, but those plans are still in the early stages.

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