Driver In Fatal Accident Previously Deported
Wednesday, Jun 06, 2007 - 05:00 AM Updated: 07:47 AM
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Save This PageBy Brian DeRoy
RALEIGH, N.C. -- There is new information about a man accused of driving drunk and crashing into two cars Monday morning on I-40.
Federal authorities say the driver, who first said he was Michael Delatorre, is really Ricardo Contreras.
Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials say Contreras is in the country illegally, and that he had been picked up by ICE officials in California and deported twice in April of 2004.
ICE officials have placed a detainer on him at the jail.
Contreras made his first court appearance today.
State Troopers say he was driving while impaired and crossed the median on I-40, slamming into two cars.
The driver of one of those two cars, 54-yea-old George Smith of Cary died at the scene.
Prosecutors say Contreras could face more charges. State Troopers say the SUV he was driving was stolen from the Charlotte area.
The percentage of Hispanics arrested for drunken driving is much higher than their population percentage.
Hispanic advocates say more education is needed.
One state lawmaker says he's tired of excuses from government officials. He says this is proof our immigration system is severely flawed.
State Representative George Cleveland is steamed knowing the man who caused the wreck is not only here illegally, but has been booted from the U.S two times before.
"We're illegal alien friendly with our policies," said Jacksonville Republican George Cleveland.
Rep. Cleveland has introduced several bills aimed at clamping down on illegal immigrants, but his measures have not gotten anywhere.
He wonders how many lives need to be lost, how much money spent until the public says enough is enough.
"For us as taxpayers to put this guy in jail for 20 years, at $25,000, $27,000 a year, it's insane, and deporting isn't working either, we need to secure the border," Cleveland said.
For it's part, advocacy agency El Pueblo is busy trying to educate Latinos on the dangers of drinking and driving.
"It's events like these motivate us to keep doing the work that we do," said Irene Godinez, El Pueblo's public safety specialist.
El Pueblo and the state are working together to try to cut down on DWI cases in the Hispanic community, including an ad campaign aimed at Latino radio and tv stations.
But is the message getting across? El Pueblo says they have a pressing challenge because of a growing population.
"So even though it may seem that the community is not listening, its just the fact we believe that there is new immigrants coming in, so it's just a constant work," Godinez said.
We also have information on the passenger in Contreras' vehicle. He was also here illegally, and had been deported once before in 2000 from Texas. Federal officials picked him up from the hospital today.
