Drunk driving blamed in Yellowstone crash that killed tourists, pickup driver
The wooden entrance sign to Yellowstone National Park, USA.. (Photo by: Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
BOISE, Idaho - Authorities said the driver of a pickup that crashed into a tour van near Yellowstone National Park this month, killing seven people, had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit for driving.
Dig deeper:
The driver, identified previously as Isaih Moreno of Humble, Texas, had a blood alcohol content of 0.20, Idaho State Police said in a statement. The limit is 0.08.
RELATED: Idaho police: Truck crossed line before deadly van crash near Yellowstone
Investigators determined that the Dodge Ram driven by Moreno crossed the center line and collided with the Mercedes van, which was carrying 14 people, in the May 1 crash. Both vehicles caught fire.
Moreno and six people from China, Italy and California were killed. Survivors were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries.
The highway where the crash happened south of West Yellowstone, Montana, is a route between Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons that is open in the spring before a north-south route is plowed and the park fully opens for summer.
What they're saying:
"This tragedy should be a wake-up call," police Capt. Chris Weadick said. "No one plans to cause a crash or take a life when they get behind the wheel, but choices have consequences."
Big picture view:
Yellowstone is one of the country's largest national parks and draws millions of visitors each year.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story came from an official statement by Idaho State Police, who provided details about the driver’s blood alcohol content and the circumstances of the crash. This story was reported from Los Angeles.