Seven Dead in Pickup Truck and Van Collision Near Yellowstone

ISLAND PARK, Idaho — Seven people died in a collision between a pickup truck and a tour van near Yellowstone National Park on May 1, Idaho State Police reported. The crash occurred just before 7:15 p.m. local time on U.S. Highway 20, close to Henry’s Lake State Park, which is approximately 16 miles west of Yellowstone.

The Idaho State Police said both vehicles caught fire following the collision. The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup died at the scene, along with six passengers in the Mercedes passenger van. The van was transporting a tour group that included 14 people.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims as the Fremont County Coroner’s Office is still working to notify their next of kin. An Idaho State Police spokesperson, Aaron Snell, stated that all six passengers who died were from outside the United States.

Emergency responders, including air ambulances, arrived shortly after the crash. The highway was closed for nearly seven hours as crews attended to the scene and cleared the road. It reopened early on May 2.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Witnesses reported seeing flames engulfing both vehicles as bystanders attempted to help survivors from the van.

Roger Merrill, who witnessed the aftermath, noted that the remote location delayed the arrival of emergency services. “It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location,” he said.

Idaho State Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.