Seven Dead, Eight Injured in Fiery Collision Near Yellowstone National Park

Idaho State Police confirmed that seven people died in the horrific crash

A devastating crash involving a Dodge Ram pickup truck and a Mercedes tour van occurred Thursday evening near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho, resulting in seven fatalities and eight injuries. The incident took place just before 7:15 p.m. on a busy highway approximately 16 miles west of Yellowstone National Park.

According to Idaho State Police, both vehicles caught fire following the collision. The driver of the Dodge Ram and six passengers inside the Mercedes van were pronounced dead at the scene. The van was carrying a tour group of 14 individuals, and the surviving occupants were transported to nearby hospitals with various injuries.

The incident occurred around 7:15 pm on Thursday

Air ambulances and paramedics were dispatched to the scene, but emergency response was delayed due to the remote location. The collision remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the cause of the accident. The Fremont County coroner’s office has not released the names of the victims, and officials are in the process of notifying next of kin. Details regarding the identities, ages, hometowns, and nationalities of those involved are still being withheld.

Eyewitness Roger Merrill, 60, was driving home when he came upon the burning wreckage. He described seeing bystanders trying to assist survivors from the van as heavy smoke poured from the vehicles. Merrill, who frequently drives along the highway leading to Yellowstone, described it as “a very dangerous highway” due to its high traffic volume, particularly from tourists heading to the national park.

The highway remains closed in both directions as investigators look into what happened

“It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location,” Merrill said, noting the limited accessibility of emergency services in the area. He captured video of the scene showing thick smoke surrounding the van.

The Idaho Transportation Department has identified this stretch of highway for safety upgrades to help reduce the severity of crashes. However, the proposed improvements remain in the research and planning stages. In 2023, this portion of the highway saw an average daily traffic count of approximately 10,500 vehicles.

Video from the scene of the accident