UPDATE: ISP gives more details on chain-reaction crash on Highway 20 near Ashton
Published at | Updated at
UPDATE:
The following is a news release from Idaho State Police.
FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho – Idaho State Police is investigating a five-vehicle crash that occurred at 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, on US20 at milepost 367.2, just north of Ashton.
A 2026 Dodge Ram pulling a RV trailer driven by a 43-year-old male from Clinton, Utah, came upon a two-vehicle crash that Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was investigating. The Dodge moved into the passing lane on the eastbound side to give the deputy space.
A 2022 Honda Odyssey, driven by a 27-year-old male from Salt Lake City, Utah, was traveling westbound and slowed down. A 2022 Tesla Model 3, driven by a 20-year-old female from Idaho Falls, was unable to slow down and rear-ended the Honda.
A 2025 GMC Sierra pulling a flatbed trailer, driven by 56-year-old male from St Anthony, moved into the eastbound passing lane where it sideswiped the Tesla and the Honda. The Tesla rotated clockwise and came to rest perpendicular in the westbound travel lane.
A 2019 Subaru Ascent, driven by a 71-year-old male from Lawrence, Kansas, tried to avoid colliding with the Tesla, and swerved into the passing lane striking the Dodge.
A juvenile from the Honda was transported via ground ambulance and was released from the local hospital.
The roads were blocked for approximately three and a half hours.
Idaho State Police was assisted by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County EMS, Ashton Police Department, North Fremont Fire, St Anthony Police Department, and Idaho Transportation Department.
This accident remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.
ORIGINAL STORY (posted at 2:15 p.m.):
ASHTON – Both lanes of U.S. Highway 20 near Ashton Hill are closed following a multiple vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon.
Lt. Marvin Crain with Idaho State Police says it happened around 11:20 a.m. at milepost 367 in the eastbound lane. An investigation is now underway so little information is available and is subject to change, but Crain tells EastIdahoNews.com at least three vehicles were involved, one of which caught fire.
When EastIdahoNews.com reports on crashes along U.S. Highway 20 — one of the biggest complaints we get is that we refer to the highway as westbound or eastbound.
It’s true that in eastern Idaho, U.S. 20 does run north and south, but nationwide, the road is actually an east and westbound route. The red line in the map above shows the route the highway follows.
RELATED | North, south, east, west — which direction does U.S. Highway 20 really run?
Most of the federal and state agencies — including Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Department — use the term “eastbound” and “westbound” when referring to U.S. 20 in news releases to media. For a while, we tried correcting every release to the direction that stretch of road is traveling where an accident happens, but that inevitably leads to more confusion and frequent errors if our terminology does not match that of traffic officials.
West = South, East = North. Get it?
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is also on scene helping with the investigation. Sheriff Bart Quayle says deputies initially responded to a two-vehicle collision that now involves seven vehicles.
No injuries have been reported.
As of 2 p.m., Sky Buffat with the Idaho Transportation Department says both lanes are closed. She anticipates the closure will last several hours.
Meanwhile, law enforcement is diverting traffic to Idaho Highway 47 along the Mesa Falls scenic byway.
Crain is asking the public to avoid the area while the investigation is underway. Idaho State Police will provide updates once it’s complete.
EastIdahoNews.com will post more information as we receive it.