Federal law enforcement officials say the man who caused the fatal accident while intoxicated is an illegal immigrant.
Jesus Sandoval Martinez, 21 I was driving Just after midnight Monday, a man in a black 2008 Dodge pickup truck ran a red light and crashed into two other vehicles in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“Witnesses told police the man was slurring his speech and appeared to be impaired.”
Police said they found an open container of alcohol inside the pickup truck.
The other vehicles were a Tesla and a Corolla. One of the drivers, Tiger Gutierrez, died after being taken to the hospital, and the other driver, Mia Montoya, sustained serious injuries. A third person involved in the accident also suffered minor injuries.
Sandoval-Martinez attempted to flee the scene after the crash, but witnesses intercepted him and detained him until police arrived. Witnesses told police the suspect was slurring his speech and appeared disoriented, according to arrest records.
He failed a field sobriety test and had no record of a driver’s license issued, police said. He was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he told police he had only consumed two beers that night.
Sandoval-Martinez was booked into the Bernalillo County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, reckless driving and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury or death.
ICE later Confirmed Authorities filed a detention order with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the man, who they say is from Mexico, for being in the U.S. illegally, adding that they had never met him before.
According to an Instagram post from the E3 volleyball program, both victims in the accident were volleyball coaches.
With migrants crossing the US-Mexico border at record rates, illegal immigration crime has become a pivotal issue in the 2024 presidential election. Former President Donald Trump has blamed current President Joe Biden and his lax policies for illegal border crossings and violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
Recent polls show that a majority of Americans consider illegal immigration crime to be one of the main issues in the election campaign and also believe Democrats are to blame for relaxing border regulations (79% and 64%, respectively).
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