3 Californians Among 7 Dead In Fiery Idaho Crash

IDAHO — Idaho State Police have identified seven people who died earlier this month in a fiery crash near Yellowstone National Park, including a tour van driver from Riverside County.

Just before 7:15 p.m. on May 1, Yu Zhang, 30, of Eastvale was behind the wheel of a Mercedes tour van heading east on U.S. Highway 20, near Henry’s Lake in Idaho, toward nearby Yellowstone.

The van driver was carrying nine passengers when a Dodge Ram pickup truck crossed the center line and smashed into the tour vehicle, according to Idaho State Police.

On May 16, Idaho State Police identified seven killed in the crash, including Yu Zhang, and the pickup driver identified as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno of Humble, Texas.

The deceased tour van passengers were named as:

• Ivana Wen, age 28, of Milan, Italy
• Jianping Li, age 71, of Guangxi, China
• Li Nie, age 64, of Arcadia, California
• Aifeng Wan, age 53, of Arcadia, California
• Xiaoming Jiang, age 66, of Guilin, Guangxi Province, China

DNA experts at Idaho State Police Forensic Services and forensic pathologists and investigators at the Ada County Coroner’s Office “allowed for a timely, thorough, coordinated, and comprehensive identification of the decedents,” according to Captain Chris Weadick, Idaho State Police District 6.

At the time of the two-vehicle crash, a passerby and Fremont County law enforcement were the first to arrive at the scene, police said. The officers saved multiple people trapped in the burning wreckage.

“Emergency medical personnel responded and treated at least sixteen patients,” Idaho State Police reported shortly after the crash.

The reason for the pickup’s movement remains under investigation; crash reconstruction and additional testing are still underway, Idaho State Police said Friday.

“Given the dynamic nature of the crash, the number of casualties, and the involvement of foreign nationals, this has been a highly complex investigation,” Weadick said. “We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we’ve worked to confirm facts and provide verified information.”