Posted on 11/19/2005 6:18:24 AM PST by TaxRelief
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Authorities say an illegal immigrant was intoxicated Friday morning when his vehicle slammed into two others on Interstate 485.
Jorge Hernandez, 35, is accused of driving more than 100 mph on the wrong side of the highway. His Ford Expedition collided head on with another vehicle, police said.
"The crash last night was a severe impact," said Trooper Brian Huffstickler of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. "It was probably one of the worst crashes we've ever seen."
The driver of the other vehicle, 18-year-old Min Soon Chang, was killed. Hernandez was injured, as was Tasha Beth Thomas, who was driving a vehicle that the Expedition sideswiped after the head-on collision.
Hernandez is charged with driving while impaired, and other charges are pending. Authorities are still trying to find out whether he has a prior record.
"Whenever you're here illegally, it's very hard for us to maintain contact with the person after they're charged," Huffstickler said.
Chang was a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
"My family is just destroyed right now," said Amos Chang, Min's brother. "They're just sad, depressed. They were in denial, but they can start to accept that my brother has passed on."
Amos Chang said his own anger was intensified because Hernandez walked away from the crash that his brother could not.
Elizabeth Cho, a family friend, said Min was a caring person.
"I kind of saw him grow up. He always looked out for other people and showed concern for other people," Cho said. "My husband and I were just saying how sad it is to lose such a nice, young kid because he can do so many things in our future in this world."
U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., is working on legislation that would strengthen penalties against illegal immigrants who are convicted of DWI. She became vocal about the issue when Scott Gardner, a Gaston County teacher, was killed in July by an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk.
On Friday, she commented on "another bright young life lost."
"I hope that this -- as far as our committees are concerned -- will make a difference," Myrick said. "This is just another example of why we need the legislation."
Police said that Hernandez was driving for almost 20 miles on the wrong side of I-485.
I think your suggestion to send these articles to the President and Chertoff is excellent....these folks are so far within the Beltway, they literally haven't any idea at ALL of how things really are out here....
This is the loophole anyone withe a Black Heart that wants to do Crime in this country. Clain that you are here Illegaly and the police will have to let you go.
"So what do you propose should be done with the driver of the Explorer? Should he be shot on sight?"....our elected representatives, IF they weren't derelict on this issue, are supposed to provide the legislative direction (and ensure enforcement) to that issue.
He is in hospital and in police custody. He will go to jail, I'm sure.
I-485, which has just been built is designed to encourage the car to "hug the road". It's smooth and has a perfect road camber which has the unfortunate side effect of encouraging high speeds of travel when the road is less crowded.
Just driv'in on the wrong side of the road that 'Merican's won't do.
International POW treatment standards.
Yes they do, and we have enough of them now and don't need to import any more.
Did the illegal even have insurance? So many do not!
We should hold demonstrations with "coffins of victims of illegal immigrant crime", the way "pacifists" hold demonstrations over Iraq. We should also keep count and make the press write news stories everytime the count hits 1000, 2000, 3000, etc.
Unfortunately, most of the press won't even attempt to identify whether or not the perpetrators are illegal or not.
Thaqnks. Pardon my paranoia, but they let almost all these thugs O/R.
Perhaps the owner of the vehicle can be held responsible?
Must not have read closely enough...I had assumed the illegal owned the vehicle? They certainly own a lot of vehicles in my town--even the teens...
"It's very hard for us to maintain contact with the person after they're charged."Why not hold him w/o bail?I assume it would be easier to "maintain contact" if the perp were sitting in jail.Can't a person be denied bail if he/she is considered a flight risk?
"Whenever you're here illegally, it's very hard for us to maintain contact with the person after they're charged," Huffstickler said.
I think it's easy to stay in contact.....just throw them in jail and keep 'em there till deported! In my world, "deported" means dropped into the middle of some very lonely Mexican desert.
ping
This would have NEVER have happened had he been issued a DL.
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