Driver who caused fiery crash that killed 6 tourists outside Yellowstone had BAC twice the legal limit: cops
The pick-up truck driver who caused a fiery crash with a tour van near Yellowstone National Park last month — killing himself and six others — had a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit.
Isaih Moreno, 25, had a BAC of 0.20 after his body was pulled from the wreckage, while the Idaho legal limit is 0.08, state police revealed Friday.
'This tragedy should be a wake-up call,' ISP Captain Chris Weadick said in a statement.
Isaih Moreno had a blood alcohol content of 0.20 when he caused the deadly crash outside Yellowstone Park.
AP
'No one plans to cause a crash or take a life when they get behind the wheel, but choices have consequences. Impaired driving isn't just illegal — it's deadly. If you see someone unfit to drive, speak up. Lives depend on it.'
The deadly crash occurred just before 7:15 p.m. on May 21 when Moreno swerved across the center line and collided with the Mercedes van carrying 14 people, investigators said.
Both vehicles burst into flames, and six people aboard the tour van were killed.
The international victims were identified as Jian Shi, 56, of Shanghai and Xiaoming Jiang, 66, of Guilin, China, and Ivana Wen, 28, of Milan, Italy.
Seven people, including Moreno, were killed.
AP
Two of the deceased travelers were California residents: Li Nie, 64, and Aifeng Wan, 53, both of Arcadia. The van's 30-year-old driver Yu Zhang, of Eastvale, California, was also killed.
Moreno, of Humble, Texas, was also killed.
The highway where the crash happened is a popular route between Yellowstone and the Grand Teton national parks in the spring, when northern roads are still covered with snow.
According to investigators, the tragedy came just before the start of Idaho's 100 Deadliest Days, or the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities typically rise due to increased summer travel, holidays and impaired driving.
Alcohol-related crashes remain one of the leading causes of traffic deaths in Idaho, state police said.
'Idaho's roads are especially busy during the summer,' Idaho Transportation Department Operations Manager Bryan Young said.
'With more construction, increased travel, and an influx of visitors, we're seeing more families and more drivers on the road. It only takes one impaired driver to change lives forever. This is a preventable problem, and it starts with each of us making responsible choices.'
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