The accident, which occurred at approximately 7:15 PM local time (2:15 AM GMT), involved a Chevrolet pickup truck colliding with a van carrying 14 tourists on a busy highway in eastern Idaho, as confirmed by state police. The collision resulted in both vehicles erupting into flames. Tragically, the truck driver and six passengers from the van lost their lives in the incident.
First responders were dispatched to the scene, and it took about seven hours to clear the wreckage and treat the injured survivors. The highway, a main route leading to Yellowstone, is notorious for its heavy traffic, especially as the park enters the peak tourist season. Local resident Roger Merrill, who witnessed the incident, described the scene, noting bystanders attempted to assist those affected as thick smoke and flames engulfed the vehicles.
Authorities continue to investigate the factors leading to this devastating crash. The local coroner's office has announced it will release the names of those who perished once their families have been informed. Yellowstone National Park, which spans roughly 3,500 square miles across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, attracts around four million visitors annually, with the peak season occurring between May and September, as reported by the National Park Service.
First responders were dispatched to the scene, and it took about seven hours to clear the wreckage and treat the injured survivors. The highway, a main route leading to Yellowstone, is notorious for its heavy traffic, especially as the park enters the peak tourist season. Local resident Roger Merrill, who witnessed the incident, described the scene, noting bystanders attempted to assist those affected as thick smoke and flames engulfed the vehicles.
Authorities continue to investigate the factors leading to this devastating crash. The local coroner's office has announced it will release the names of those who perished once their families have been informed. Yellowstone National Park, which spans roughly 3,500 square miles across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, attracts around four million visitors annually, with the peak season occurring between May and September, as reported by the National Park Service.
