A deadly crash on a highway near Yellowstone National Park has left seven people dead and eight others injured after a fiery collision between a pickup truck and a tour van on Thursday evening. The incident occurred just before 7:15 PM on US Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park, about 16 miles west of Yellowstone.
According to Idaho State Police, the crash involved a Mercedes passenger van and a Dodge Ram pickup truck. Both vehicles were engulfed in flames following the collision. Emergency responders, including air ambulances and paramedics, rushed to the scene, where they found bystanders attempting to help the survivors.
Six of the 14 passengers in the van were killed, while the remaining eight were rushed to the hospital with injuries. The driver of the pickup truck was also among the fatalities.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though authorities have yet to release specific details. The collision temporarily closed US Highway 20 for nearly seven hours while first responders cleared the scene. The highway has since reopened.
A Terrifying Scene
Roger Merrill, a local resident, was driving home when he came upon the scene of the crash. He described seeing both vehicles engulfed in flames and bystanders assisting the survivors from the van. Merrill noted that the highway, which leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park, is known to be dangerous, especially given the heavy traffic from tourists visiting the park.
“It’s extremely busy,” Merrill said. “I often see tourist vans on this highway, but nothing like this.”
Merrill also shared his concern about the location of the accident. Due to the remoteness of the area, it took longer than usual for first responders to arrive. “It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location,” he added.
This crash marks a tragic reminder of the dangers on highways leading to popular tourist destinations, where high volumes of traffic can make roads more hazardous, particularly in remote areas with limited emergency services.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, but no further details have been provided at this time. The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Sources By Agencies
