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.
What standing do they have to bring this suit? I didn't think non american citizens could sue over US laws?
Doubly surprised they didn't blame it all on the SUV...
The proper term is undocumented /sarcasm
Actually he's here on the Guest Drunk Driver program.
anybody know why the family has'nt a lawsuit against ICE?.....
I'll bet that not only was he illegal but he had Tenn plates on this vehicle and a Tenn drivers license.
Congresswoman Myrick recently introduced legislation calling for a federal highway funds cutoff if NC didn't tighten up its drivers' license to include, at a minimum, proof of legal residency: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1519066/posts
Predictably, her move was met with howls of protests from spokespersons for the Dem Governor and the Dem State Senate Majority leader, who protested that they were "already" working on the problem. "Already." You gotta love it. (See post 32 on the linked thread for more details.) How many years do we have to be confronted with such a problem (far too mild a word) before it is fixed?
What was particularly disappointing, and frankly amazing to me, is that some FReepers on that thread accused Rep. Myrick of "grandstanding." It's a damn shame and disgrace that her legislation was necessary. But clearly, it was.
Two Points: 1. If this particular idiot was back in Mexico, this particular 18-year-old would still be alive.
2. Idiots who live outside the law are hard to police. They have nothing to lose and nothing to tie them to the community. If this idiot ever gets on the street, he's gone.
Tequilla compadre... !!
Drug sales
Hit and run is their MO here in Denver.....all the time..oh and by the way..they don't have insurance either....and remember...its no "cost" to us.....
That's a bit like waiting to charge an illegal (with a "valid" voter registration) with voter fraud only after he accidentally votes Republican.
"Whenever you're here illegally, it's very hard for us to maintain contact with the person after they're charged," Huffstickler said.
Amos Chang said his own anger was intensified because Hernandez walked away from the crash that his brother could not.
Amos, if you think you're angry now, wait until you realize that Hernandez is probably already on a bus headed back to mexico to avoid taking responsibility for the murder of your brother.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
That much is obvious. I was merely pointing out that the comment, "Just doin' the insane drunk driving that Americans won't do" is absurd to the point of embarassment.
"How does an illegal alien afford a Ford Expedition?"
I was wondering the same thing? I thought these illegals made little or nothing and send what money they had back to Mexico.
Looks like they kept most of it.
Nope he is here in a drunk driver exchange program.....I'm sure he had insurance.....and my father in law asked me why I took the uninsured driver rider.....
See, it's still the fault of the SUV!
That being said, this gentleman committed murder in my eyes. No manslaughter charges, no vehicular death charges, he should go to the front of death row.
I wanted to post a big "Duh!" and let it stand on it's own. Unfortunately there are still too many people; Bush, OBL's on this forum, etc., who wouldn't, or choose not to, understand.
You're forgetting the 2 illegals in either AZ or NM who sued and WON the ranch property of a man who roughed them up when they illegally trespassed on his property, while entering the country illegally.
Notice I used the word "illegal" 3 times in the above sentence.
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