Seven people died, and eight were injured Thursday evening when a tour bus collided with a pickup truck near Yellowstone National Park. Authorities reported the Yellowstone tour bus crash killed seven after the vehicles caught fire following the deadly highway collision in eastern Idaho.
According to Idaho State Police, the crash happened at 7:15 p.m. local time when a Chevy pickup struck a van with 14 tourists. Investigators say both vehicles erupted into flames immediately after impact, leaving bystanders scrambling to assist survivors on the roadside.
The truck driver and six van passengers died at the scene, while emergency responders rushed eight others to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials say the cause of the crash remains under investigation, with the local coroner’s office working to notify families before releasing victims’ names.
Witness Roger Merrill, driving home that evening, said he saw smoke and flames rising from the wreckage on the highway. Bystanders worked frantically to pull injured passengers from the burning vehicles before emergency crews arrived.
Merrill described the highway as a notoriously dangerous stretch, heavily trafficked due to Yellowstone’s peak tourist season. Authorities closed the road for seven hours, allowing emergency teams to secure the site and safely clear debris from the fatal accident.
Yellowstone National Park, the oldest in the United States, spans nearly 3,500 square miles across Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. It draws an estimated four million visitors annually, most traveling between May and September to experience the park’s famous geothermal features and wildlife.
Park officials expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, noting the devastating loss during what should have been a joyful visit. The tour bus crash serves as a grim reminder of the risks travelers face on busy national park highways. Authorities continue urging drivers to exercise extreme caution, particularly during the bustling summer season when roads surrounding Yellowstone see heavy tourist traffic daily.
