Blown tire might have caused fatal crash

A blown tire may have been the cause of a crash that killed three Mountain Home residents last week, Nov. 2, on I-84.

A witness reported to Idaho State Police that he saw a tire blow out on the vehicle just before it swerved out of control and rolled. ISP crash reconstructionists are working to establish the validity of that report as they continue their investigation.

All six of the vehicle occupants were ejected from the vehicle when it rolled multiple times in the crash.

The accident killed the driver of the vehicle, Raquel Rodriquez, 30, and a male passenger, Gregorio Monreal-Garcia, 27, both of whom died of their injuries at the scene. On Monday, Nov. 3, the nine-year-old daughter of the driver, Raquel Ballesteros, succumbed to her injuries at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise that she had suffered in the crash. Also injured were another daughter, 5-year-old Maria Ballesteros (who was initially listed in critical condition after being taken by air ambulance from the scene), the driver's husband, 49-year-old Gumecindo Ballesteros and a passenger, 25-year-old Ulleses Rodriquez.