Chinese Embassy issues safety warning after fatal Idaho crash

The Chinese Embassy in the United States issued an emergency notice on Saturday, cautioning Chinese nationals traveling in the US to be cautious following a tragic accident in Idaho on Thursday evening that resulted in the deaths of five Chinese citizens.

"Choose credentialed travel agencies with good reputations and purchase personal accident insurance," said the notice, urging individuals who plan to go on road trips to plan and research thoroughly. "Be familiar with local traffic rules, road conditions and regulations."

Around 7:15 pm on May 1, Idaho state patrol responded to a fatal crash on eastbound US highway 20, near Henry's Lake, a spot about 26 kilometers west of Yellowstone National Park. A pickup truck collided with a passenger van carrying 14 people, resulting in a fire that claimed the lives of six van passengers and the pickup driver.

The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco confirmed on Friday that five Chinese citizens were among the seven deaths, with eight others injured. The consulate has activated its consular protection emergency response mechanism to assist the injured and support the families of the deceased.

According to Henry Liu, a tour guide in California who is familiar with the incident, the van was operated by Ctour Holiday, a large-scale licensed tour operator in California. Along with the five Chinese passengers, one Italian tourist also died in the crash.

This Yellowstone excursion route is very popular among international tourists, Chinese in particular, said Liu. "Many want to see its grizzly bears and the hot springs."

"The road conditions are good. Weather is fairly good, too," said Liu. "It's very troubling to see such a fatal crash happening."

According to the Idaho police department, next-of-kin notifications are ongoing and authorities are working to coordinate with relevant local and international authorities. "Due to the international nature of those involved, the process is complex and will take additional time," a press release said.

As part of the investigation, the bodies of the deceased will be transported to the Ada County Coroner's Office for autopsy and formal identification. This step is essential to ensure accurate identification and documentation.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, said the Idaho police department.