FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho — Idaho State Police (ISP) has shared further information about the Thursday collision that resulted in the deaths of seven people near Henry’s Lake.
The Fremont County Coroner’s Office identified the driver of the Dodge Ram pickup truck as a 25-year-old man from Texas named Isaih Moreno. Moreno was traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 20 when his truck collided with an eastbound Mercedes passenger van carrying 14 occupants at milepost 399. Moreno was one of seven people who died as a result of the collision.
The other six people who were killed had been occupants of the tour van. The vehicle was headed toward Yellowstone National Park, ISP said, carrying 12 passengers of Chinese nationality and one passenger of Italian nationality. The driver held a California driver’s license. The group was on a tour organized by Ctour Holiday LLC, which ISP described as a “large-scale receptive tour operator that provides international travel services.”
ISP noted that a Fremont County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived at the scene of the crash shortly after it occurred, immediately assisting injured occupants of the van “as it caught fire” with the help of bystanders, per the press release. ISP has not yet released any information regarding the cause of the collision.
Everyone involved in the crash was transported for medical care, according to ISP. Three people were flown by air ambulance (one to Bozeman, Montana, and two to Idaho Falls, Idaho), and the remaining individuals traveled via ground ambulance to area hospitals.
As ISP’s investigation continues, the deceased are being taken to the Ada County Coroner’s Office.
“Next-of-kin notifications are ongoing and coordinated with appropriate local and international authorities,” ISP’s release states. “Due to the international nature of those involved, the process is complex and will take additional time.”
ISP said it continues to work closely with Ctour Holiday LLC and the Consulates of China and Italy in this ongoing investigation.
