A Mexican national living in the U.S. illegally for more than a decade after ignoring a federal deportation order was arrested in Orange County, California, on Friday following an alleged DUI hit-and-run crash that killed a 71-year-old man, according to federal law enforcement sources.
Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, The Orange County Register reported. Upon arrival, they found 71-year-old Barry William Tutt of La Verne critically injured. Emergency personnel transported Tutt to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Witnesses reported that a silver Ford sedan fled the scene. Detectives later identified the driver as 57-year-old Humberto Munoz Gatica of Laguna Niguel, according to The Register.
Gatica was tracked down and arrested on charges of DUI and related offenses. He was booked into the Orange County Jail. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that Gatica was initially arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2011 for being in the country illegally. He was released under the Obama administration with a notice to appear in court but failed to do so. This resulted in a federal immigration judge ordering his deportation in absentia in 2012.
Since that ruling, Gatica has remained an ICE fugitive, living in California, which designates itself as a sanctuary state.
Authorities also confirmed that Gatica was driving under the influence in Dana Point at the time of the crash. He allegedly struck Tutt and then fled the scene.
Jail records indicate that Gatica faces charges of DUI causing death or bodily injury, as well as hit-and-run causing death or bodily injury.
The investigation is ongoing. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/illegal-immigrant-dodges-deportation-decade-before-allegedly-killing-man-dui-hit-and-run