7 dead after van carrying tour group collides with pickup truck near Yellowstone National Park

FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (ABC4) — Seven people are dead after a crash on Highway 20 in Fremont County, Idaho near Yellowstone National Park Thursday night, according to Idaho State Police.

Shortly before 7:15 p.m. on May 1, Idaho State Police troopers responded to a crash at milepost 399 on eastbound U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park, around 16 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. The crash occurred between a Dodge Ram pickup truck and a Mercedes passenger van — both of which caught fire after the crash, police said.

The Mercedes van was reportedly carrying a tour group of 14 people. Six were declared dead after the crash, and the others were taken to the hospital with injuries. The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup truck was also declared deceased.

Air and ground resources were called in due to the severity of the injuries at the scene.

The Fremont County Coroner’s Office will reportedly release the names of the deceased after the next of kin has been notified. The office is also working to determine the cause and manner of death for each individual.

“ISP is leading the investigation with assistance from local and regional partners,” a press release from Idaho State Police states. “At this time, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.”

Roger Merrill, 60, was driving home when he saw the flames engulfing the two vehicles as bystanders tried to care for survivors from the van on the side of the highway, according to the Associated Press. Merrill said he often sees tourist vans on the highway that leads to Yellowstone National Park.

“It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” he said. “It’s extremely busy.”

Merrill captured video of the wreckage with smoke blanketing the van. Due to the remote location, Merrill said he anxiously awaited the help of first responders.

“It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location,” he said.

No further information is available at this time.