At least seven people have died following a devastating crash between a tour van and a pickup truck near Yellowstone National Park on Thursday evening, according to Idaho State Police. The accident occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m. on a highway near Henry’s Lake State Park, around 16 miles west of Yellowstone. The two vehicles, a Mercedes passenger van operating as a tour vehicle and a red Dodge Ram pickup truck, collided with catastrophic consequences—both vehicles quickly became engulfed in flames following the impact.
The tour van was carrying 14 individuals at the time of the crash. Authorities confirmed that the driver of the Dodge pickup truck was among the deceased, along with six people from the van. The full extent of injuries sustained by the other passengers has not yet been disclosed, as emergency crews continue to work through the aftermath of the fiery wreck.
Photos from the scene show a horrifying tableau—one vehicle almost completely consumed by fire, while the mangled remains of the red Dodge pickup lay nearby. Emergency responders, including fire crews and air ambulance units, converged on the crash site in an urgent response to the tragedy. A medical helicopter was deployed, and paramedics rendered assistance to any survivors at the chaotic scene.
Smoke billowed into the evening sky as flames lit up the roadside. The cause of the accident remains unknown at this time, and authorities are conducting a full investigation into the events that led to the collision. Officials have not yet released the names of those who perished, pending notification of next of kin.
The crash has shocked both the local community and tourists in the area, many of whom travel to the scenic Yellowstone region to experience the park’s natural beauty. For now, that beauty has been overshadowed by sorrow and loss.
Idaho State Police have pledged to continue their investigation with a thorough examination of both vehicles, interviews with any surviving passengers, and analysis of road and weather conditions at the time. They are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who was traveling in the area to come forward with information.
This tragic event serves as a somber reminder of how quickly life can change on the open road, especially in areas frequented by large numbers of travelers. As investigators piece together the cause of the crash, loved ones of the victims and the broader community are left grappling with grief in the wake of such an immense loss.
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