Driver in Idaho crash that killed 7 people had a blood alcohol content of .20, police say

FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (ABC4) — Idaho State Police have confirmed that the at-fault driver in a crash that killed seven people in Fremont County, Idaho, had a blood alcohol content of .20, more than twice the legal limit of .08.

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, Isaiah Moreno, 25, of Humble, Texas — who has since been confirmed to have had a blood alcohol content of .20 during the accident — was also declared deceased.

Courtesy of East Idaho News via Roger Merrill

The crash occurred just at the start of the “100 Deadliest Days” — the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities rise due to increased summer travel, holidays, and impaired driving.

“This tragedy should be a wake-up call,” Idaho State Police Capt. Chris Weadick said. “No one plans to cause a crash or take a life when they get behind the wheel, but choices have consequences. Impaired driving isn’t just illegal — it’s deadly. If you see someone unfit to drive, speak up. Lives depend on it.”

Alcohol-related crashes remain one of the leading causes of traffic deaths in Idaho. This summer, Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Dept. are joining up to increase DUI enforcement and expand public outreach.

“We ask everyone to help protect lives by staying sober behind the wheel,” an Idaho State Police press release states. “The public is encouraged to report suspected impaired driving by calling ISP (477) or 911 if they observe erratic or dangerous behavior on the road.”

Idaho State Police said the group of 14 people in the Mercedes van were headed to Yellowstone National Park on a tour organized by Ctour Holiday LLC. Of the 14 individuals in the Mercedes van, 12 were of Chinese nationality and one was of Italian nationality.

A Utah family that witnessed the crash recalled a haunting story of the moments that followed.