LOS ANGELES — An unlawful immigrant with a historical past of drunk driving is now behind bars for allegedly inflicting a fiery, head-on crash whereas inebriated in San Diego that killed an 8-year-old lady and injured a number of others, The Put up has discovered.
Brayan Alva-Rodriguez, 25, who’s from Guatemala, was allegedly drunk behind the wheel of his Toyota Tacoma when he crossed the double-yellow line on San Felipe Street close to Ranchita on Sunday — smashing straight right into a Toyota Camry, the San Diego Union-Tribune first reported.
Alva-Rodriguez’s Tacoma then smashed right into a Ford F-350 with a utility trailer that had been forward of him within the different lane, inflicting the migrant’s truck to flip and erupt into flames, the outlet additionally famous, citing California Freeway Patrol.
Solely Alva-Rodriguez and his passenger had been in a position to exit their autos on their very own, although each sustained accidents and needed to be transported to a neighborhood hospital.
Seven folks in whole had been injured. Three youngsters had been at the back of the Camry — together with two boys, ages 4 and 5, and the deadly 8-year-old lady.
Alva-Rodriguez, whose final identify is reversed in county reserving information as “Brayan Rodriguez Alva,” was booked Thursday by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Division and charged with first-degree homicide, two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, in addition to felony costs for driving underneath the affect and inflicting bodily harm to the seven within the accident.
The Guatemalan nationwide was beforehand charged with DUIs in San Diego and Vista on Sept. 6, 2020, and April 7, 2021, respectively, with the latter incident additionally together with a hit-and-run cost, in keeping with Division of Homeland Safety officers.
It’s unclear when Alva-Rodriguez entered the US.
He’s at present being held on a greater than $2 million bond on the San Diego Central jail. His subsequent courtroom date is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has since lodged an arrest detainer to ultimately deport Alva-Rodriguez, however the San Diego sheriff’s workplace denied the identical request in a separate case involving a Mexican migrant — who had been faraway from the US 4 occasions prior — accused of killing an 11-year-old boy in a brazen hit-and-run on Thanksgiving eve.
A spokesperson for the workplace pointed to California’s so-called “sanctuary” regulation barring them from coordinating with ICE to deport that migrant, Hector Balderas-Aheelor, who had no prior felony costs.
The Put up reviewed a replica of the detainer displaying that the sheriff’s workplace famous the Mexican nationwide could be topic to removing upon conviction from the hit-and-run cost.
Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz, 11, was operating after his soccer ball on the finish of the road exterior his residence on Nov. 26 in Escondido, Calif., when Balderas-Aheelor allegedly ran him over after which sped off.
The boy died at a close-by hospital on Thanksgiving Day. His household later shared heartbreaking tributes on-line and a vigil was held close to their residence in Escondido.
Balderas-Aheelor, who’s being held on a $300,000 bail, was deported from the nation 4 earlier occasions — way back to 2004. Prosecutors stated in a Wednesday arraignment listening to that he posed a flight danger and was a “transient.”
“This case is a tragedy and each dad and mom’ worst nightmare. We’re doing every thing in our energy to get justice for Aiden’s household,” Deputy District Lawyer Nicole Gerard stated after the listening to.
The Put up has reached out to the San Diego sheriff’s workplace for remark about Alva-Rodriguez’s ICE detainer.
“What number of deaths of kids by the hands of felony unlawful aliens have to occur earlier than Governor Newsom and sanctuary politicians will prioritize the security and safety of American households?” stated DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a press release. “This serial drunk driver ought to have by no means been allowed again onto California roads.”
“We’re praying for the household of this baby who might be grieving this vacation season,” McLaughlin added. “Secretary Noem is looking on Governor Newsom to honor this ICE arrest detainer for this unlawful alien.”
Newsom’s workplace stated following Balderas-Aheelor’s arrest, “nothing prohibits the federal authorities from doing its job on this case.”
