A four-vehicle crash near Iona claimed the life of an Idaho Falls woman Sunday afternoon after a California driver allegedly failed to stop at a posted stop sign, sending a chain-reaction collision across both lanes of US-26.
The crash occurred at approximately 4:52 p.m. on June 22, 2026, at the intersection of E 49th N and US-26, northwest of Iona in Bonneville County.
What Happened
According to Idaho State Police, a 2019 Nissan NV200 van driven by a 39-year-old man from Camarillo, California, was traveling eastbound on E 49th N when it failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a 2017 Dodge Challenger. The Dodge was driven by a 59-year-old Idaho Falls woman traveling eastbound on US-26.
The force of the impact pushed the Dodge into westbound traffic, where it collided with two additional vehicles — a 2008 Ford Focus operated by a 34-year-old Idaho Falls man, and a 2017 Ford F-250 driven by a 44-year-old Idaho Falls woman. The F-250 had two juvenile passengers at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Dodge was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The driver of the Ford F-250 was also taken to the hospital by ground ambulance. The condition of the F-250 driver was not released. No other injuries were reported as requiring transport.
Investigators noted that occupants of the Nissan, Dodge, and Ford Focus were all wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision. The F-250 driver was also belted in, though whether the juvenile passengers were restrained remained unknown as of the initial report.
The crash closed both eastbound and westbound lanes of US-26 for approximately five hours as investigators worked the scene.
Response and Investigation
Idaho State Police responded to the scene along with units from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Falls Fire Department EMS. The crash remains under active investigation by Idaho State Police.
US-26 is a heavily traveled corridor through Bonneville County, connecting Idaho Falls to communities to the east and serving as a key route toward Ririe and the upper Snake River plain. A separate fatal crash on US-26 near Ririe earlier this year also drew significant emergency response, underscoring ongoing safety concerns along the highway.
What Comes Next
Idaho State Police have not announced whether any citations or charges have been filed in connection with Sunday’s crash. Investigators are expected to continue reviewing the circumstances, including the failure to yield at the posted stop sign, as the case moves forward. Additional findings from the investigation may result in further legal action.
Anyone with information related to this crash is encouraged to contact the Idaho State Police. Updates will be published as they become available through official channels.