Drunk driving the cause of deadly Island Park crash, say police

ISLAND PARK — A deadly crash that left seven people dead was caused by a drunk driver, according to police.

The fiery crash occurred on the evening of May 1 at milepost 399 on U.S. Highway 20, not far from the Idaho/Montana line, involving a Dodge Ram pickup truck and a Mercedes tour van.

The Dodge driver was identified as 25-year-old Isaiah Moreno of Humble, Texas. The group was traveling to Yellowstone National Park on an excursion organized by Ctour Holiday, a large-scale tour operator that provides international travel services.

Idaho State Police say that at about 7:15 p.m., the pickup crossed the center line and collided with the eastbound van, which was carrying 14 tourists. Shortly after the crash, a fire broke out, consuming the vehicles.

Six people in the van died, as well as Moreno.

According to a news release from ISP, Moreno had a blood alcohol content of 0.20, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

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“This tragedy should be a wake-up call,” ISP Capt. Chris Weadick says in the release. “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.”

According to ISP, alcohol-related crashes remain one of the leading causes of traffic deaths in Idaho.

“Idaho’s roads are especially busy during the summer,” Idaho Transportation Department Operations Manager Bryan Young says in the release. “With more construction, increased travel and an influx of visitors, we’re seeing more families and more drivers on the road. It only takes one impaired driver to change lives forever. This is a preventable problem, and it starts with each of us making responsible choices.”

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If you are planning to drink, ISP reminds the public to arrange for a designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or public transportation.

“This summer, ISP and ITD are partnering to strengthen DUI enforcement and expand public outreach,” says the release. “We ask everyone to help protect lives by staying sober behind the wheel. 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.”

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