Seven Lives Lost in Fiery Collision on Yellowstone’s Scenic Route
On a serene Thursday evening, May 1, 2025, a catastrophic collision shattered the lives of seven families and left a somber mark on the scenic route to Yellowstone National Park. A Dodge Ram pickup truck and a Mercedes tour van, carrying a group of international travelers, collided on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho, approximately 16 miles west of Yellowstone’s western entrance. The crash, which occurred just before 7:15 p.m., claimed the lives of seven individuals and left eight others injured, some critically. The tragedy unfolded on a highway known for its heavy tourist traffic, a vital artery connecting visitors to one of America’s most treasured natural wonders.
The tour van, operated by Ctour Holiday LLC, a California-based international travel service, was transporting 14 passengers, including 12 Chinese nationals, one Italian citizen, and a driver licensed in California. The group was en route to Yellowstone National Park, a destination renowned for its geysers, wildlife, and vast wilderness, drawing millions annually, including a significant number of international visitors. According to a 2016 Yellowstone visitor study, 17% of the park’s guests hail from abroad, with 34% of those coming from China and 11% from Italy, reflecting the diverse allure of the park.
Idaho State Police identified the six van passengers who perished as Jianping Li, 71, of Guangxi, China; Xiaoming Jiang, 66, of Guilin, China; Ivana Wen, 28, of Milan, Italy; Li Nie, 64, of Arcadia, California; Aifeng Wan, 53, of Arcadia, California; and the van’s driver, Yu Zhang, 30, of Eastvale, California. The driver of the pickup truck, 25-year-old Isaih Moreno of Humble, Texas, also lost his life. In a correction issued on Friday, May 16, authorities clarified that Jian Shi, 56, of Shanghai, initially reported as deceased, had survived but sustained injuries. The error underscored the complexity of identifying victims in such a devastating incident, with bodies requiring DNA testing due to severe burns from the fire that engulfed both vehicles.
Investigators determined that Moreno’s pickup truck crossed the center line of U.S. Highway 20, striking the oncoming tour van in a near head-on collision. The cause of the truck’s deviation remains under scrutiny, with Idaho State Police and the National Transportation Safety Board conducting parallel investigations. The latter’s involvement stems from the commercial nature of the tour van, highlighting the crash’s broader implications for highway safety. Witnesses, including local resident Roger Merrill, described a harrowing scene: flames and thick smoke billowed from the wreckage as bystanders, including two heroic passersby, risked their lives to pull eight survivors, including a child, from the van before it was consumed by fire. Merrill noted the highway’s notoriety, a busy corridor where tourist vans are a common sight, yet its remote location delayed emergency response, amplifying the tragedy’s impact.
The crash closed U.S. Highway 20 for nearly seven hours as emergency responders, including air ambulances, treated the injured. Three survivors were airlifted to hospitals in Idaho Falls and Bozeman, Montana, while others received care at local facilities, with injuries ranging from life-threatening to minor. Two survivors remained in stable condition at Madison Memorial Hospital, and three were treated and released, while Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center also admitted patients. The Idaho Transportation Department has long identified this stretch of highway for safety upgrades, with an average of 10,500 vehicles traversing it daily in 2023. However, planned improvements remain in the research phase, leaving the road’s dangers unaddressed.
This tragedy, occurring less than a year after another fatal crash on the same highway that claimed six lives, has renewed calls for urgent safety measures. The route, a gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, is particularly busy in spring as visitors flock to the region before the park’s full summer opening. Idaho Governor Brad Little expressed condolences, pledging cooperation with local officials to uncover the crash’s causes. Meanwhile, the Chinese and Italian consulates are working closely with authorities to support the victims’ families, many of whom face the daunting task of navigating grief across continents.
The loss of Jianping Li, Xiaoming Jiang, Ivana Wen, Li Nie, Aifeng Wan, Yu Zhang, and Isaih Moreno has left an indelible void. Their journey to experience Yellowstone’s wonders ended in tragedy, but their stories underscore the shared humanity of those drawn to the park’s beauty. As investigations continue, the focus turns to preventing future losses on a highway that, for all its scenic promise, carries a heavy toll.
