Coroners identify 7 men and women killed in fiery tour van crash near Henrys Lake
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ISLAND PARK — The identities of seven individuals killed in a fiery two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 20 near Henrys Lake have been released.
The crash occurred on the evening of May 1 at milepost 399, not far from the Idaho/Montana border. It involved a Mercedes tour van and a Dodge Ram pickup truck. Idaho State Police say at about 7:15 p.m., the pickup crossed the center line and collided with the eastbound van. A fire broke out shortly after the crash, consuming the vehicles.
“While ISP responds to many collisions, this was especially traumatic due to the challenging scene and number of lives affected,” ISP Cpt. Chris Weadick said in a news release. “I commend Sgt. Higley and his team for their professionalism and dedication. This investigation required immense time and precision to gather the right information and respectfully serve the families.”
The individuals’ identities were obtained through a collaboration between the Fremont County Coroner’s Office, the Ada County Coroner’s Office and Idaho State Police Forensic Services.
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The six people killed in the van were:
- Ivana Wen, 28, of Milan, Italy
- Jianping Li, 71, of Guangxi, China.
- Li Nie, 64, of Arcadia, California, USA
- Aifeng Wan, 53, of Arcadia, California, USA
- Xiaoming Jiang, 66, of Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Yu Zhang, 30, of Eastvale, California, USA (identified as the van’s driver)
Isaiah Moreno, 25, of Humble, Texas, was the driver of the Dodge Ram and was also killed in the crash.
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“This tragic incident required thorough coordination and careful attention to detail,” Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye said in a news release. “I’m grateful to the Ada County Coroner’s Office and Idaho State Police Forensic Services for their professionalism and support. Their collaboration was essential to ensuring accurate identification and proper documentation for the families of those lost.”
There were fourteen people in the van. Two were transported by air ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, and another to Bozeman, Montana. The remainder, who were injured, were sent by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg.
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The group was traveling to Yellowstone National Park on an excursion organized by Ctour Holiday, a large-scale tour operator that provides international travel services.
The investigation remains open pending final test results and continued reconstruction analysis. No further information about the crash is expected to be released.
“Given the dynamic nature of the crash, the number of casualties, and the involvement of foreign nationals, this has been a highly complex investigation. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we’ve worked to confirm facts and provide verified information,” Weadick said.
CORRECTION: A prior version of this story incorrectly stated Jian Shi, age 56, of Shanghai, China, was among the deceased. This was incorrect as Jian Shi sustained injuries but survived the crash. The decedent should have been identified as Jianping Li, age 71, of Guangxi, China. The incorrect information came from Idaho State Police, who regret the error.
