An joyful journey was suddenly cut short near the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. On the evening of May 1st local time, a severe traffic accident occurred on Highway 20 in eastern Idaho, resulting in seven deaths and multiple injuries. Among the victims were five Chinese tourists. They were members of a tour group from Southern California, but now their lives have ended far from home.

According to the Idaho police report, at around 7 p.m. local time on May 1st, a red Dodge Ram pickup truck collided head-on with a Mercedes-Benz high-roof 15-passenger minibus on the eastbound lane of Highway 20 near Henries Lake State Park. The collision caused both vehicles to catch fire quickly, with flames and thick smoke filling the scene, and the fire一度 went out of control.

  • The driver of the pickup truck died on the spot;
  • Multiple people were trapped inside the minibus and did not survive;
  • A total of seven people died in the accident, including five Chinese tourists.

The deceased driver of the pickup truck has been confirmed as Isaih Moreno, 25, from Texas. Regarding the other six victims, the Idaho police said in a latest update: "Due to the complexity of the incident, it will take time to confirm the identities of all involved parties and notify their close relatives."

Brenda Dye, coroner of Fremont County, told The New York Times that the other six victims were severely burned beyond recognition, forcing officials to wait for DNA test results to identify them.

After the accident, the scene was initially chaotic, with many passersby stopping their cars to attempt rescue. Witnesses said that the fire did not start immediately, but began to spread about 10 minutes after the accident. A police officer tried to use a fire extinguisher to control the fire, but the flames quickly engulfed the entire minibus.

Roger Merrill, an eyewitness and operator of Island Park Theatre, told local media that he arrived at the scene about 5 minutes after the accident, and the situation was "very serious." He saw other parked motorists, including many Asian-looking tourists, rushing to the scene with blankets and other items to help the victims and communicate with the survivors who came out of the minibus and appeared to be of Asian descent for translation.

The fire broke out about 10 minutes after the accident. A police officer tried to use a fire extinguisher to control it, but the fire soon spread. "The fire didn't start right away," Merrill said. "It took about 10 minutes after I arrived for the fire to start." After the fire broke out, the police officer attempted to control the flames with a fire extinguisher, but the fire quickly spread from the pickup truck to the minibus. "At first, I thought it was just gas coming out of the crashed vehicle, but after a few minutes, I saw flames rising."

▲Accident site. Video screenshot

According to confirmation from the Consulate General of China in San Francisco to Xinhua News Agency, five Chinese citizens died and eight were injured in this accident. According to an investigation by the Star News:

  • Three injured persons were transported to the hospital by helicopter, one sent to Bozeman Medical Center in Montana, and two sent to Idaho Falls Community Hospital;
  • Five injured persons were transported to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho by ambulance;
  • As of May 2nd, three injured persons have been discharged, and the others are stable;
  • Due to HIPAA privacy laws, the hospital did not disclose specific patient identities and conditions.

According to sources, the vehicle involved in the accident belongs to a Chinese travel agency in Southern California. All 14 passengers in the vehicle were members of the tour group. The agency's manager learned of the accident and rushed to the scene overnight to assist in handling matters and coordinate flights and visa procedures for the families of the deceased.

It is understood that:

  • Families of the deceased are arriving from China and other states;
  • The travel agency has divided its efforts into three fronts, arranging specialists to assist in comforting the injured, cooperating with police investigations, and handling aftermath affairs;
  • Among the eight survivors, some are still undergoing surgery, while others have minor injuries or are recovering well.

The accident occurred on Highway 20, which leads to the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Idaho, about 16 miles from the park gate. It is a common route for tourists. A local tour bus operator stated that this section of the road is flat, with higher speeds (up to 80-90 mph), and surrounded by farmland and ranches, rather than steep mountain roads.

Despite this, due to the concentration of tourists and more out-of-state drivers, accidents still occur annually around Yellowstone National Park. Witness Merrill said he reminds his employees every year to be careful on this stretch of road, "Although it looks easy to drive, accidents happen all the time."

Currently, there are many speculations online about the cause of the accident, but whether it was speeding, overtaking, drunk driving, or mechanical failure is still under investigation.

This accident not only claimed the lives of seven people but also brought indescribable pain to countless families. The journey abroad should have been filled with joy and exploration, but was tragically cut short by a sudden disaster.

We wish peace for the departed and urge all travelers to prioritize road safety, no matter where they are or how beautiful the scenery may be.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7500371824425943587/

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