Family outing ends in tragedy: 5 relatives recovering after deadly crash
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IDAHO FALLS — What should have been a happy day filled with fun memories for a close-knit family suddenly turned into tragedy. Five of them landed in the hospital with significant injuries due to a fatal crash that happened in early July.
Two of them remain at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, while the other three have since been released.
“It was a traumatic experience, but I am working through everything,” Jose Jimenez told EastIdahoNews.com.
His mother, brother, sister, uncle, and cousin were involved in the crash.
It happened on Monday, July 6. Jose and his partner, Melissa Gomez, along with their four kids, live in the Alpine, Wyoming area.
RELATED | Idaho Falls man killed, 5 others rushed to hospital following crash near Ririe
A family outing
Melissa said they spent time with Jose’s family in Idaho Falls. They went shopping at the Grand Teton Mall. In the evening, they decided to head back to Wyoming for a birthday party.
She, Jose, and their kids traveled in one vehicle, while Jose’s family was in another, a blue 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe.
Jose’s mother, Veronica Solorio, 49, drove. Inside the vehicle was her brother, Jorge Solorio, 53, who was visiting from Mexico with his daughter, Carmen Pamela Solorio, 26. Veronica also had two of her kids in the car, Jair Jimenez, 24, and Vanessa Jimenez, 14.
“We were already a little bit past the Swan Valley General Store around when it happened. We started seeing a lot of cops passing by,” Melissa said. “I remember telling Jose if it was his family because we hadn’t seen them behind us, and usually they catch up to us.”
Melissa and Jose tried to contact family members one by one, but nobody was answering their phones.
“We thought that was kind of weird. We had a gut feeling that something was probably wrong,” she said.
They turned around and started heading back to Idaho Falls after one of their children tracked Vanessa’s location through her iPhone and noticed that she was nowhere near Alpine.
“Jose’s mother called us back. She had told us that they were the ones who were in the car accident and she was in an ambulance and her brother was the one who was lifeflighted,” Melissa said.
It was devastating for Jose to hear, and also for their kids.
“When our kids heard their grandma in distress, they also went into distress because they thought the worst,” she said.
What happened
According to the Idaho State Police, a two-vehicle fatality crash happened at 6:45 p.m. at milepost 358 on US Highway 26, east of Ririe.
A blue 2010 Hyundai Accent, driven by 32-year-old Valentin Armenta Algandar from Idaho Falls, was traveling westbound.
A blue 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Veronica Solorio of Wyoming, with four passengers, was traveling eastbound. The Hyundai crossed over into the eastbound lanes where it collided with the Chevrolet.
ISP crash reconstruction specialist Aaron Aikele told EastIdahoNews.com it was reported to be raining hard when the crash occurred, and there was standing water on the road. According to witness statements, the driver in the Hyundai had lost control of his car.
Aikele added that the crash had originally been reported as a head-on collision, but they determined the Hyundai actually spun around and was facing backwards when the two vehicles collided.
The driver of the Hyundai died from his injuries on the scene, according to ISP.
Jorge was transported by air ambulance to EIRMC. The other four occupants in the Chevrolet were transported by ground ambulance.
“The scariest thing for Jose was that he didn’t know what condition they were in,” Melissa said.
On Facebook, Melissa posted for some help in the situation they were facing. She received messages.
“It seems like several people have lost a lot of loved ones on that same road where that crash happened,” she said.
“It looks like it should be a double-lane road, and it’s not; it’s only a single-lane road. Maybe it needs a central divide or something on that road because it seems like there are so many accidents that happen…there must be something that has to be done for that road to become safer for people who travel it every day,” Melissa continued.
The GoFundMe
Melissa created a GoFundMe online to help family members with medical expenses, rehabilitation, transportation, housing and living expenses, lost income, and the long recovery ahead. Click here.
“If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean more than we can express,” the GoFundMe said.
As of Friday morning, nearly $25,000 has been raised with a goal of collecting $65,000.
Veronica suffered multiple fractures and other injuries that will require continued treatment, time away from work, and rehabilitation, Melissa wrote on the GoFundMe.
Many people in the Jackson area know Veronica from Starbucks inside Target. She is described as “a fun, loving and hardworking woman.” She remains at EIRMC.
“I know for a fact that Veronica is still struggling with a lot of anxiety and PTSD from the accident. That day, it was raining. She goes to sleep and she wakes up and she tells me that she still dreams of the car spinning into them, because she saw it,” Melissa said. “She was the one driving, so she feels the most responsible for the accident, even though it wasn’t her fault.”
Her son, Jair, and daughter, Vanessa, also suffered fractures, lung contusions, and lacerations to their faces. They both have been released from EIRMC.
Veronica’s brother, Jorge, who goes by “Lalo” got the worst of it: multiple fractures, broken ribs, injuries to both legs, spinal fractures, and internal injuries. His recovery is expected to take a full year. He remains at EIRMC.
“Veronica’s brother was in the ICU on life support for a week, so it was really hard for her to see her brother. He has undergone about five surgeries now. He is about to go into two more. He is doing so much better now, which is honestly a blessing,” Melissa said.
His daughter, Carmen or “Pamela,” suffered serious facial and jaw injuries, dental trauma, fractures, and a small brain bleed. She faces continued medical care and an estimated recovery of up to six months. She has been released from EIRMC.
“She broke her jaw and then the bone that holds her teeth together. She will have to stay here and get surgery eventually again for her teeth cause she lost her bottom teeth during the accident,” Melissa said.
Both Jorge and Pamela were visiting from Mexico for Vanessa’s Quinceañera. A Quinceañera is a traditional Latin American coming-of-age celebration for a girl’s 15th birthday.
“Jorge has a family in Mexico. He has kids and a wife who depend on him to work, and he has a business. He has to stay here and recover from his injuries,” Melissa said.
Melissa and Jose are grateful that their family members are alive. It’s a lot to handle, but they are hoping for the best.
“I’ve been talking to my mom every day. I have been doing alright,” Jose said.
According to EIRMC spokeswoman Coleen Niemann, Veronica and Jorge are both in fair condition as of Thursday evening.
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