A man has been charged with DUI manslaughter following the tragic death of a 16-year-old in Mobile, Alabama, and it turns out he is in the U.S. illegally, as stated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE confirmed that an immigration agent has been assigned to Franklin Oriel Fajardo Arana, who was identified as an illegal immigrant from Honduras after his arrest on Monday by local police.
Scott Ludwig, acting field director for ICE in New Orleans, emphasized the agency’s focus on removing dangerous undocumented individuals. He mentioned, “This case underscores the importance of working with local law enforcement to identify and remove those who violate immigration laws and threaten community safety.”
The accident involved a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota 4Runner, leading to the unfortunate death of the teenage boy. The Mobile police responded to the crash on Sunday.
In another twist, it was revealed that the Fairfield Police Department had an active warrant against Fajardo Arana for a separate DUI-related incident.
The Mobile Police did not respond immediately to inquiries. Meanwhile, Fajardo Arana remains charged with DUI manslaughter, according to ICE.
Witnessing the aftermath of the accident, Ernest Williams, a local barber, recounted his shock. He recalled standing outside with friends when he heard the crash, which suddenly shifted everything. “We rushed over to see what happened,” he explained, adding that they helped extract the driver and attempted to rescue the victim trapped beneath the vehicle.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Williams expressed regret that more wasn’t done, remarking, “Now that we know he’s gone, it feels like we could have done more, but we just wanted to help in any way possible.”
