A 25-year-old Salt Lake City man died Thursday afternoon after his van rear-ended a semi-truck on westbound Interstate 84 in Gooding County, Idaho, according to a news release from Idaho State Police. The collision occurred near milepost 150.8, west of Wendell, and resulted in the driver of the van dying from his injuries at the scene.
Details of the Collision
The crash occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026. According to reports from Gephardt Daily and EastIdahoNews, the victim was operating a 2001 Dodge van traveling westbound when he struck the rear of a semi-truck.
Idaho State Police identified the semi-truck as a 2020 Freightliner. The vehicle was pulling a 2018 Utility trailer at the time of the impact. While the van driver sustained fatal injuries, the driver of the semi-truck was not injured in the collision, according to Idaho State Police.
Emergency Response and Scene Management
The driver of the semi-truck has been identified as a 64-year-old man from Mount Judea, Arkansas.
Emergency response efforts required approximately two hours to manage the scene. During this time, crews blocked the right lane of westbound I-84 to allow for investigation and scene clearance, according to reports from both Gephardt Daily and EastIdahoNews.
Responding Agencies
The investigation into the fatal accident involved multiple agencies. Idaho State Police led the response, receiving assistance from the Gooding County Sheriff’s Office and the Wendell Fire Department.
Ongoing Investigation
As of the time of reporting, the crash remains under investigation by Idaho State Police. The identity of the 25-year-old Salt Lake City man has not been released by authorities.
Traffic Impact
The incident marks a significant disruption on the westbound lanes of I-84 near the Gooding County area, though the right lane was eventually cleared following the two-hour response period.
Vehicle Identification
The collision involved a 2021 Dodge van and a 2020 Freightliner, as noted in the police report, highlighting the heavy vehicle involvement in the westbound I-84 incident.
