Balza, Barbara Ann

Barbara married Birkholz, William Vernon (son of Birkholz, Vernon William and Bartlein, Doris Jean) [Group Sheet]

Scott married Unknown, Tracy [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Obituary: Aft 3 Jan 2003

Notes:

Obituary:
UPDATED: 3 killed early today in crash near Helotes, By Karen AdlerExpress-News Staff Writer
Web Posted : 01/03/2003 4:00 PMA Helotes area woman, her brother-in-law and a friend from South Dakota w ere killed early today after the car they were traveling in caught fire a nd flipped over after the vehicle ran off Texas 16 about three miles nor th of Helotes.The driver of the four-door 2002 BMW - the husband of the woman and the o nly survivor of the accident - was pulled out of the vehicle by a passer by and was taken by helicopter to University Hospital, said Sgt. Steve Ame rson of the traffic safety unit of the Bexar County Sheriff's DepartmenThe fire prevented the passerby from rescuing the other occupants of the c ar, he said.Those who perished include: Tracy Birkholz of 18140 Helotes Spring Roa d, Brandon Birkholz of 1632 Santa Fe Trail in San Antonio and Tom Bow en of Sturgis, S.D. All three were in their early 30s, Amerson said.Scott Birkholz, 31, also of 18140 Helotes Spring Road, was still being tr eated today at University Hospital.Gary Biggs, an investigator with the Bexar County medical examiner's offi ce, said dental records were needed to verify the identity of the three pa ssengers who died in the fiery crash.The car was headed north in the 17400 block of Texas 16 at about 2:45 a. m. when the driver lost control of the vehicle, Amerson said."He started skidding sideways … went off the road and down the embankment ," he said.About halfway down the slope, the car turned around and the rear end stru ck a tree, Amerson said."That's when it caught on fire and then flipped over," he said.Amerson said the stretch of Texas 16 where the accident occurred is not c onsidered dangerous. The site of the crash is just north of Ranch Parkwa y, the road that leads to the San Antonio Ranch subdivision, and sou th of Helotes Spring Road, where the home of Scott and Tracy Birkholz is l ocated.Sheriff's personnel spent much of the day investigating the scene of t he accident, taking photos and measurements.
News email kadler at express-news.net