http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/13229997.htm
Accused driver has past charges
Record includes 2 impaired-driving cases, 17 removals from U.S.
CLEVE R. WOOTSON JR. [email protected]
A man charged with second-degree murder in a fiery wreck that killed a UNC Charlotte student Friday has faced previous impaired-driving charges and has been sent back to Mexico 17 times, authorities said Monday.
The man's name is Jorge Humberto Hernandez-Soto, although he has used several, including Jorge Gonzales Martinez, said N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Clayton Amaral.
Authorities told reporters that he has two prior impaired-driving arrests -- one in Colorado and one in Tennessee. He also was ticketed for driving without a license in Georgia, the Observer's news partner, WCNC, reported. It was unclear Monday whether he was convicted on those charges.
Hernandez-Soto, 35, was deported from Tucson, Ariz., twice and from El Paso, Texas, once. He voluntarily returned to Mexico 14 times after being caught within miles of the border, immigration officials said.
"We have no idea how he's getting back in" the country, said Jeff Jordan, assistant special agent in charge of North Carolina for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
On Monday, the charges against Hernandez-Soto were upgraded to include a second-degree murder charge. He is scheduled to make a first court appearance today in Mecklenburg County.
Hernandez-Soto, who told officers he is from Lake City, S.C., told the Observer in a hospital interview Saturday that he drank six beers before Friday's wreck. He was headed north in the southbound lanes, going faster than 100 mph while officers signaled him to pull over from across the median, Amaral said.
He crashed into the blue Nissan 350Z driven by Min Chang about 12:40 a.m.
Chang's family said he had missed a midnight showing of the latest "Harry Potter" movie and was headed back to his Mint Hill home when the accident happened. His funeral was Monday morning.
Hernandez-Soto was ejected from the Ford Expedition in the accident, hitting his head and breaking an ankle. He is in Mecklenburg County jail.
Hernandez-Soto's first contact with U.S. officials came in 1996, Jordan said, and he was voluntarily returned to Mexico.
A person found near the U.S.-Mexico border and suspected of illegally crossing is sometimes given the option of a deportation hearing or being immediately driven back to Mexico. "The reason it's that way is to expedite the return of the alien," Jordan said.
This is the second high-profile case in North Carolina involving drunken driving and an undocumented immigrant in five months. A July wreck that killed a Gaston County teacher inspired Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., of Charlotte, to propose legislation to deport any undocumented immigrant convicted of drunken driving.
Scott Gardner and his family were on their way to the beach in July when, police said, their car was struck by a truck driven by Ramiro Gallegos, an illegal Mexican immigrant with five previous DWI charges since 2000.
At least part of Hernandez-Soto's fate is certain, said immigration spokesman Tim Counts. "If and when he is released, we will do our job," he said. "Our job would be to deport him." -- Staff writers Liz Chandler and
Another person falls victim to the “need for cheap labor” and the rise of illegal immigration.http://www.wbtv.com/news/news_detail.cfm?ns_id=1349&hdr=1
UNCC Student Killed by Accused Drunk Driver
Friday, November 18, 2005
A student enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is dead following a crash caused by an accused drunk driver.
The accident happened on I-485 near Rocky River Road early Friday morning. The accused drunk driver was heading the wrong way, killing the teenager.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has not released a name for the drunk driver, but they did say they don't know who he is.
The UNCC student's name is Min Chang. He was a freshman at the school. He was killed instantly. A third car was involved in the crash and that driver was injured.
Prior to the crash, the highway patrol received calls from other motorists about the driver going the wrong way and troopers were on the way.
"Unfortunately, we could not close in on him fast enough before the accident," said Trooper C. J. White. The driver who caused the wreck did not have and ID with him. Before the accused drunk driver was taken to the hospital, he told the highway patrol that his name was Jorge Hernandez and that he had only been in the country for a week. The name "Jorge Hernandez" is often given by illegal immigrants who are trying to hide their true identities.
He was fingerprinted and the state highway patrol has submitted the fingerprints into a national database to see if they can be matched with a name. He is now charged with Driving While Impaired and more charges are pending.
Update
My prayers and condolence to the Chang family.Posted on Sun, Nov. 20, 2005
OBSERVER EXCLUSIVE
Driver in crash says he's illegal
Immigrant admits he drank, is 'sad' about wreck that killed teen
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ
[email protected]
The Mexican immigrant involved in a wreck that killed a Mint Hill teenager acknowledged Saturday he is in the country illegally and had drunk six beers before the crash.
Jorge Hernandez, 35, expressed surprise when told by an Observer reporter that a young man had died in the Interstate 485 wreck.
"I didn't know that happened," said Hernandez, reached by phone in his hospital room. "I didn't know. I feel very sad.
"Hernandez had been driving a Ford Expedition against traffic for several miles at speeds topping 100 mph when he smashed into a Nissan 350z driven by Min Chang, police said.
Both vehicles burst into flames. Chang, an 18-year-old freshman at UNC Charlotte, described by his former fifth-grade teacher as a "teddy bear" who could cheer up anyone, died at the scene.
Hernandez was thrown from his vehicle, hitting his head and breaking an ankle.
Speaking in Spanish, Hernandez said he resides in Pamplico, S.C., about 175 miles southeast of Charlotte. He planned to be in Charlotte just for the day, to pick up the sport utility vehicle for a friend.
He said he had about six beers at a store before getting on the road that night to drive home. He does not have a driver's license, he said.
A native of the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, Hernandez said he moved to South Carolina alone three years ago to work in agriculture picking cucumbers, sweet potatoes and tobacco. He said he has no other family in the country.
Doctors checked Hernandez's head bruises and performed surgery on his left ankle Friday, he said. His head injuries were not serious, he said, but his leg still hurts and he expects to remain in the hospital a couple of more days.
When Hernandez is released, police said, he'll be taken directly to Mecklenburg Jail Central and booked on charges including driving while impaired and involuntary manslaughter.
Trooper Brian Huffstickler of the N.C. Highway Patrol said Hernandez also could face second-degree murder charges if police find out he has prior DWI convictions.
"He has blown all safe driving rules out the window," Huffstickler said.
A preliminary check by the Observer using Hernandez's name and the date of birth he gave police turned up no previous criminal charges in North or South Carolina.
Advocate `disappointed'
Angeles Ortega-Moore, executive director of the Latin American Coalition in Charlotte, said Saturday she is "extremely disappointed" at the news of the wreck. She said it underscores the need for education efforts within the Latino community on the dangers of driving drunk. She and others worry the tragedy will fuel anti-Latino sentiment. This summer, Latino immigrant advocacy groups reported receiving harassing e-mails and phone messages after a Mount Holly teacher, Scott Gardner, was killed in an accident involving an illegal immigrant who has been charged with driving while impaired.
"The concern is the people will be unfairly blamed as a group of drunk drivers and that's not the case at all," said Joe Carleo, producer of WTVI's Spanish-language public affairs program, "Charlotte Hoy." "Most of the Latinos that I have been associated with in 12 to 13 years here in Charlotte are law abiding and just as sad and horrified hearing about this tragedy."
The Gardner wreck spurred Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., of Charlotte, to introduce legislation that would make driving while impaired an automatic deportable offense. She said Friday that this latest tragedy is another example of why her legislation should be passed.
Grief and memories
The Chang family, who emigrated from South Korea, is simply trying to deal with the loss right now, said Chang's brother, Amos, 15.
As news of the tragedy spread, loved ones spent the day reminiscing about their quietly magnetic friend who seemed to always be smiling.
More than 40 friends and teachers as well as others posted heartfelt messages about Chang in a charlotte.com guest book.
"He was just this little teddy bear who everyone loved," said his former fifth-grade teacher, Betty Love.
His friend and classmate Kellie Hoard, 19, remembers how girls flirted with him by pinching his cheeks. "He always made me feel comfortable," she said.
Several people wrote in the online guestbook they were convinced Chang is now an angel. One friend imagined the light-hearted Chang looking down upon his friends saying: "Dude, I got wings!"
Funeral Arrangements
The viewing of Min Soon Chang's body will be today from 4 to 5 p.m. at McEwen Funeral Home in Matthews. A funeral will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Monday.
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