WHAT should have been a scenic journey to one of America’s most iconic national parks ended in devastation Thursday, as a collision near Yellowstone claimed seven lives and left eight others injured.

The crash occurred in eastern Idaho when a van carrying 14 tourists collided with a Chevy pickup truck on a busy highway leading to the park’s main entrance.

According to Idaho State Police in a BBC report, six individuals in the van and the driver of the pickup died.

Both vehicles burst into flames, prompting bystanders to rush in and help survivors along the roadside. Some victims had to be airlifted due to the extent of their injuries.

The identities and nationalities of those killed have not yet been released.

Authorities are continuing to investigate what led to the deadly crash, which unfolded during the onset of Yellowstone’s peak tourist season. The route where the incident occurred is known for heavy traffic, particularly during the summer months.

A witness to the aftermath, local resident Roger Merrill, described seeing both vehicles engulfed in flames while others attempted to assist the injured.

“It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” he said in the same report. “It's extremely busy.”

Emergency crews closed the road for seven hours as they treated the wounded and cleared the scene, located roughly 16 miles from the park’s entrance. The local coroner’s office will release the victims’ names once next of kin have been notified.

Yellowstone National Park, which spans nearly 3,500 square miles across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, draws about four million visitors each year, most between May and September.(MyTVCebu)

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• #Bus-truck Collision
• #Chevy Pickup Truck
• #Idaho State Police
• #Deadly Crash