On Thursday, a collision involving a Chevy pickup and a van with 14 tourists near Yellowstone National Park led to a tragic loss of life and several injuries, raising concerns about road safety as the summer tourist season begins.
Tragic Tour Bus Collision Claims Seven Lives Near Yellowstone National Park
Tragic Tour Bus Collision Claims Seven Lives Near Yellowstone National Park
A devastating crash between a tour bus and a truck near Yellowstone has resulted in seven fatalities and multiple injuries.
Seven individuals lost their lives in a tragic accident involving a tour bus and a truck in eastern Idaho on Thursday. The collision, which took place on a busy highway leading to Yellowstone National Park, also left eight others with injuries necessitating medical attention. Emergency services were deployed, with some victims being transported by air ambulance due to the severity of their conditions.
Idaho State Police reported that both vehicles ignited after the crash, resulting in the unfortunate death of six passengers in the van and the driver of the pickup truck. As the authorities delve into the causes of the accident, the identities and nationalities of the deceased have yet to be disclosed.
The incident has raised alarms about highway safety, particularly on the road that serves as a key access point to the national park, especially as it enters the peak tourist season. Local resident Roger Merrill, who witnessed the crash, described the chaotic scene where bystanders rushed to assist survivors while both vehicles were engulfed in flames.
"The highway is extremely busy, especially during the tourist season leading into Yellowstone," Merrill remarked, emphasizing the potential dangers present on such routes.
The highway remained closed for several hours as emergency crews attended to the casualties and worked to clear the wreckage, roughly 16 miles from the entrance to Yellowstone. The local coroner's office is expected to release the names of the victims once their families have been informed.
Yellowstone National Park, recognized as the first national park in the U.S., spans across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, attracting nearly four million visitors annually, with the summer months seeing the highest number of tourists.
