BOISE, Idaho — Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal submitted an amendment to elevate the six charges against the driver involved in an Idaho Falls crash that killed six people and injured nine others.
According to Wednesday's news release, the amendment was sent after Idaho State Police alleged 26-year-old Luis Garcia-Diaz of Rexburg was driving under the influence at the time of the crash.
Court records show Garcia-Diaz is facing six counts of vehicular manslaughter in Bonneville County. With the DUI, he faces up to 90 years in prison if convicted.
"The original charges were based on evidence collected at the scene, but a blood alcohol level has now been established by evidence received by the State Police through the service of search warrants," Neal said in a news release.
On Friday, May 24, ISP said troopers arrested Garcia-Diaz after he was discharged from the hospital following treatment for his injuries caused in the crash. He was booked into the Bonneville County Jail.
The crash occurred on Saturday, May 18. Officials said the 26-year-old was driving a Dodge Ram pickup east on US-20 near the Lindsay Boulevard exit when he drove left across the center and crashed head-on with a Chevy passenger van.
Idaho State Police said the driver of the van and five other passengers died at the scene. Garcia-Diaz and nine other passengers in the van were taken to the hospital via air and ground ambulances.
The Bonneville County coroner identified the six victims as Abel Mejía Martínez, 43, Pedro Manuel Alcantar Mejía, 26, Brandon Ponce Gallegos, 24, Jose Guadalupe Sánchez Medina, 20, Luis Enrique Sereno Perez, 32, and Javier Gomez Alcantar, 36.
On Tuesday, May 21, the Mexican government said the 15 victims inside the van are Mexican citizens working in the United States under the H2A visa program and were traveling to their jobs. The Mexico Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced they will be providing assistance to the families of the victims involved. Also, seven of the injured workers remain in the hospital for their injuries, and two have been discharged.
Mexico officials stated they reached out to Sigmet Farms Services, who employed the workers, and lawyers to provide "corresponding advice and support." They continued that the state government has been notified of steps that may be required. They will later follow up with state officials on the transfer of the deceased back to Mexico.
Garcia-Diaz is set to appear in court in Bonneville County for his preliminary on June 7, 2024.
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