An undocumented immigrant has been charged in a tragic drunk driving incident that resulted in the deaths of a college football player and his girlfriend in North Carolina. Previously dismissed drunk driving charges from years past are now being scrutinized, highlighting ongoing debates about immigration enforcement.
Juan Alvarado Aguilar, 37, faced charges of driving while impaired on November 5, 2020, in Cabarrus County. Court documents indicate that a district attorney on administrative leave dismissed the case, as permitted by North Carolina law, allowing cases to be removed from court records without formal termination.
This fatal crash, which claimed the lives of 20-year-old Fletcher Harris and 19-year-old Skyler Provenza, has reopened discussions around past DWI charges. The accident occurred when Aguilar reportedly crossed the center line on Amity Hill Road, leading to a head-on collision.
In court, Aguilar, with a Spanish interpreter’s help, faces two counts of felony causing death by vehicle and one count of driving while impaired. Prosecutors asked for his bail to be raised from $250,000 to $2 million due to his criminal history and concerns he might flee. However, the judge set bail at over $5 million, expressing significant concerns about Aguilar’s potential to appear in future court proceedings.
During the court session, prosecutors noted that state troopers reported a strong smell of alcohol at the crash scene, overpowering other odors. Aguilar reportedly admitted to being the driver, with no passengers in his vehicle. Testimony revealed that he stumbled and fell on responding officers before being handcuffed. He was later taken to a hospital for complaints of back pain, where blood was drawn for investigation purposes.
Prosecutors mentioned that Aguilar had previously failed to appear in court twice and had a past DWI charge. This, they argued, made him a considerable flight risk. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents also took him into custody.
Aguilar is currently held at the Rowan County Detention Center, awaiting his next court appearance on March 2. Fletcher Harris, who was part of Catawba College’s men’s soccer team and was pursuing a double major, was noted for his academic achievements. Meanwhile, North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall highlighted the incident’s connection to what he sees as the dangers of inadequate immigration policy, attributing the tragedy to federal border policies.
The incident has also rekindled discussions about federal laws that target undocumented immigrants who commit serious impaired driving offenses. A proposed bill, known as the Illegal Alien Drunk Driving Act, aims to categorize DUI-related deaths or serious bodily injuries as aggravated felonies, potentially leading to deportation and restrictions on legal immigration status for offenders.
