ANOTHER Gen 1 mechanical crisis

All - I gave my daughter our 2002 Gen 1 a few years back at 70K (yes that's low, I bought it from my father on law 7 years old with 14K!!). Last summer at about 85K after the Red Triangle of Death came on with increasing frequency, it died completely (in Las Cruces where no one knows hybrids, even the dealer). I hauled it up to Denver and had a hybrid specialist rebuild the transaxle. Worked like a champ, until recently the Red Triangle came back a few times. Then today, after a 600 mile drive back to Las Cruces in nice cool weather with the cruise on the 75 mph speed limit, when she pulled of the highway, it died and started squealing like a stuck pig. No change in brake, gas, or shift lever matters: no power, squeals like banshee. I had her tow it home, and she can get by for a few days without it. I am assuming that one of the accessories (AC, water pump, power steering or alternator) or idler or tensioner pulleys froze and the accessory serpentine belt is making the squeal. And I am then assuming it's the alternator, because none of the others (except maybe the water pump?) would cause the smart car to not allow any progress. Right? On a normal (dumb) car, it'd just proceed while making a racket, but for some reason the car does not move with the engine on, gear selector in D, and brakes off. Is my logic sound? Or is it something deeper down? Not the tricking' transaxle again,.... please...