Witnesses: SUV Driver Fondling Woman Before Crash (killed 8 of 14 illegal aliens in car)

KUTV (Utah) ^ | April 17, 2007

[Stoat]

Apr 17, 2007 8:30 pm US/Mountain

Witnesses: SUV Driver Fondling Woman Before Crash

BLUFF Federal authorities filed a criminal charge Tuesday against the driver of a sport utility vehicle that crashed in southeastern Utah, killing eight illegal immigrants packed inside.

Rigoberto Salas-Lopez, 30, was charged with one count of transporting illegal immigrants resulting in death. Eight of the 14 people in the Chevy Suburban died after it rolled several times on U.S. 191 a few hours before dawn Monday.

Authorities determined that the driver and passengers were from Guatemala and Mexico. Salas-Lopez was arrested after fleeing into the desert after the crash in the Four Corners area of Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.

He said he was given the vehicle by a man in Phoenix who offered him $1,000 to drive the people to St. Louis from Phoenix, according to an affidavit by Timothy Chard, an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Salas also stated that he knew the individuals in the vehicle were from Mexico and Guatemala and that they were in the United States illegally,” Chard wrote.

Six men and two women were killed. Four men and one woman were injured and taken to hospitals.

Some survivors told agents that Salas-Lopez was fondling a woman before the crash – accounts that contradict his claim that he was trying to avoid hitting an animal.

“According to interviews by ICE that potentially was not the case,” said Lt. Todd Peterson of the Utah Highway Patrol. “The driver was involved in fondling or groping a female in the vehicle and that was the potential reason for the distracted driving.”

But Peterson added that some survivors did mention a horse or some other animal in the road.

Salas-Lopez will appear Wednesday in federal court in Salt Lake City. If convicted, the possible penalties range from prison to a death sentence.

The highways and back roads of southeastern Utah are popular corridors to move illegal immigrants and drugs, said Peterson, who is the police agency’s area lieutenant for San Juan and Grand counties.

“It’s a daily occurrence,” he said.

“We are limited as to what our response can be when we encounter these individuals. Our local jails and correctional facilities cannot house the number of people we’re dealing with and ICE has limited resources,” Peterson said. “It’s a Catch-22 situation.”

He said he oversees eight troopers and sergeants for a two-county area that includes 650 miles of state roads.

On Oct. 11, 2005, a van loaded with 16 people, all but one in the U.S. illegally, rolled on U.S. 191 near Moab in Grand County, killing two. The driver was sentenced to two years in federal prison.

[BigCinBigD]

[mtbopfuyn]

If they’d obeyed the law and stayed south of the border, they’d be alive today and US taxpayers wouldn’t be burdened with their hospital and court expenses.

[Reaganesque]

Well, Liberals can relax now: At least he wasn’t using his cell phone.

[from occupied ga]

All but the driver went to the hospital, at taxpayer expense no doubt.

At the expense of the hospital rather than the taxpayers, which means that everyone who uses it and pays, pays for these criminals too.

[pax_et_bonum]

Lovely fellow.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Good place to cop a feel?

[mborman]

That rascally Rigoberto has his mind occupied with sex and not with his primary duties, which is to haul illegal invaders to their new land.

[AuntB]

“It’s a daily occurrence,” he said.

Think about what the cost of the 5 in the hospital. Won't be cheap!

[HiJinx]

I’m sure illegals or Central/South Americans aren’t the only ones who wreck while having fun in the front seat...

OTOH...well, y’know, I just don’t know what to say.

[taxed2death]

Lesson learned:
One should fondle or drive, but never both at the same time.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Lesson learned: One should fondle or drive, but never both at the same time."

My old man always said, "Play it safe: Use both hands, and let the woman drive."

[dalereed]

” I just don’t know what to say.”

She was only trying to lower her fee to the driver by not protesting.

[janetgreen]

LOVE that Sheriff Joe!

[Dante3]

The witnesses should take care - Johnny Sutton might charge them. Does Sutton have a family or friends? Any hobbies other than to spend all that time devising schemes to charge innocent people and to make it easier for drug dealers?

[skeeter]

Here’s at least one illegal who left his family values at the Rio Grande.

[since1868]

Ahh but was he wearing his seat belt?

[ßuddaßudd]

I hope the SUV is ok......

[Stoat]

LOVE that Sheriff Joe!

He is among the brightest of our shining stars, and is a great tribute to our nation.

We all owe him a tremendous debt, not only for the criminals that he has removed from circulation but in the worthwhile and innovative methods that he has used to improve the quality of life for his entire state.

My great hope is that other agencies are paying careful attention to Sherriff Arpaio and implementing his methods slsewhere.

[Stoat]

Here’s at least one illegal who left his family values at the Rio Grande.

I'm wondering if he had any values to begin with?  I'm not seeing much of an indication of any.

[mad_as_he$$]

You owe me a beer and a keyboard!