The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco has dispatched a working group to handle the aftermath of a traffic accident near Yellowstone National Park in Idaho, which claimed the lives of five Chinese citizens and left eight others injured.
The accident occurred on a highway near Henry’s Lake State Park, about 26 kilometers west of the national park, on Thursday evening, when a pickup truck and a tour van collided and caught fire.
In an interview with China Media Group on Sunday, Zhou Maoyi, the deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, shared updates on the ongoing efforts to support the victims and their families.
"We have carefully examined the accident site and listened to the U.S. side’s briefing on the rescue operations. This tragic accident has caused the unfortunate loss and injury of multiple people. We are deeply saddened and extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims, and sympathy to the families of the deceased and the injured. We will do everything we can to continue assisting our fellow Chinese citizens with the follow-up work," said Zhou.
The working group has been in direct contact with local police, urging them to quickly determine the cause of the accident and share their findings with Chinese authorities. U.S. police have expressed great concern over the severity of the accident and are continuing the investigation.
The consular team also visited the injured in the hospital.
"The overall condition of the injured citizens is stable. Some have just undergone surgery and are recovering, while others are expected to be discharged soon and reunited with their families," Zhou said.
Chinese Consulate General dispatches working group to handle crash near Yellowstone
Chinese Consulate General dispatches working group to handle crash near Yellowstone
Chinese Consulate General dispatches working group to handle crash near Yellowstone
The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the Ninth Special Olympic Games will conclude on Monday, with a full-dress rehearsal for the closing ceremony held Saturday night at Shenzhen Sports Center.
Lasting approximately 45 minutes, the rehearsal seamlessly integrated artistic performances with core ceremonial elements, including the entrance of sports delegations, flag reception, flag raising, and the singing of national anthem.
The ceremony aims to highlight themes of inclusion and unity, underlining the spirit of perseverance, solidarity, and determination. Messages of harmony between disabled and non-disabled individuals, shared values across the Greater Bay Area, and collective progress were central to the evening's presentation.
A total of 600 performers are participating in the closing ceremony, including about 130 persons with disabilities. Organizers worked to ensure a supportive environment by pairing each visually impaired performer with a non-disabled guide to assist during rehearsals and performances.
Behind the scenes, thoughtful design turns inclusiveness into action. Though visitors will see a simple, elegant stage, hidden modifications make it fully accessible. Traditional stairs have been replaced with ramps on both sides of the stage to accommodate wheelchair users and all performers, and anti-slip carpets have been laid throughout to ensure safety, especially for performers with mobility challenges.
Technical teams are also fine-tuning every detail, including stage visuals and lighting effects.
A total of 7,824 athletes from 34 delegations registered for this year's Games, held for the first time jointly across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area. The competition includes 1,876 events in 46 sports, with six winter sports already concluded. Highlights also include 131 events in 11 mass-participation sports and 599 events in nine Special Olympics sports.
Under the slogan "Passionate National Games, Vibrant Greater Bay Area," the Games are also being used to promote innovation in assistive technologies. A range of advanced products will be put into use during competition, helping move technologies from laboratories into real-world testing and market application.
Full-dress rehearsal for National Para Games' closing ceremony held in Shenzhen
