The driver of the black pickup truck involved in the tragic Deep River crash has finally given his first public account of what happened on the night 18-year-old Rodrigo “Rico” Montes lost his life. In statements to investigators and limited comments afterward, the suspect claimed a brief argument with Rico inside the vehicle led to him losing control, causing the truck to flip and plunge into Deep River near 27th Avenue and Wyoming Street in Lake Station, Indiana.

According to the driver, the disagreement was minor and happened moments before the crash. He says he and Rico were returning from a casual cookout when the argument started, quickly escalating enough to distract him from driving. The truck overturned and landed upside down in the river. The driver reportedly left the scene after the incident, sought medical treatment for minor injuries at a local hospital, and initially provided conflicting accounts before going silent for several days.

His version of events has immediately come under heavy scrutiny. Investigators and the Montes family point out several inconsistencies with witness statements, the timing of Rico’s final phone activity, and physical evidence from the scene. Rico’s cellphone was recovered from the riverbed still attempting to send a location pin to his family at 3:57 a.m. — well after the crash is believed to have occurred — suggesting the teenager was conscious and desperately trying to get help in his final moments.

Earlier that night, Rico had sent his mother a simple, loving text: “Mom, I’m riding home with a friend, see you soon.” He never made it home. His body was recovered from the river on March 26 after an extensive search by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Dive Team. The driver was taken into custody shortly after.

Rico’s family has expressed deep skepticism about the driver’s claim of a “short argument.” They describe Rico as a kind, joyful senior at River Forest High School in Hobart who was looking forward to graduation and had no history of conflict. His brother Saul Montes and girlfriend Mila Soto have publicly questioned how a minor disagreement could lead to such a catastrophic outcome, especially given that Rico was simply asking for a safe ride home.

The case continues to unfold as authorities review toxicology results, vehicle data, and any available surveillance. The driver faces multiple charges, though full details have not yet been released. The “short argument” explanation has only intensified calls for transparency and justice from the Montes family and the northwest Indiana community.

Rico Montes was remembered as the beloved “baby” of a large, close-knit family — an athlete who wrestled, loved spending time with friends, and brought light to everyone around him. The final text he sent his mother and the unfinished location attempt from his submerged phone have become heartbreaking symbols of his last moments. They show a young man who never stopped trying to make it back home, even as the water rose around him.

This tragedy has sparked important conversations about teen safety, the dangers of late-night rides, and the need for better communication between young people and their parents. Many are urging teenagers to always share real-time locations and to think carefully before getting into any vehicle when tension or impairment might be present.

For the Montes family, every new detail brings both the hope of truth and fresh waves of grief. The phone recovered from Deep River — still fighting to send help at 3:57 a.m. — stands as silent proof that Rico fought until the very end.

Rodrigo “Rico” Montes will be remembered not for how his life ended in that river, but for the love, laughter, and warmth he brought while he was here. His last text and his desperate, unfinished attempt to send his location will forever echo as the cry of a son who just wanted to see his mother again.

One innocent request for a ride home. One final reassuring text. One phone still trying to send help at 3:57 a.m. And a driver’s story that now hangs in the balance.