Federal immigration authorities are seeking custody of a Salvadoran national who is accused of killing a mother and her daughter in a suspected drunk-driving crash after allegedly traveling the wrong way on a Maryland freeway.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has filed a detainer request with Montgomery County officials for Jose Antonio Caballero-Nolasco, the Department of Homeland Security told News Media.
Caballero-Nolasco faces two counts of grossly negligent manslaughter, two counts of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, and one count of causing life-threatening injury by motor vehicle.
Split of Interstate 270 and Jose Antonio Caballero-Nolasco. (DHS; Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Authorities said Caballero-Nolasco was impaired when he drove the wrong way on Interstate 270 on Aug. 29, moments before his vehicle collided head-on with another car carrying four people.
Two of the occupants, Musammat Shamima Begum, 46, and her 23-year-old daughter Areebah Jahin, were killed. They were from Northern Virginia and were on their way home at the time of the crash, affiliate FOX 5 D.C. reported.
Two others, a 62-year-old man and an 8-year-old girl, survived and were taken to local hospitals.
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Investigators said they believe that alcohol impairment was a contributing factor in the crash.
FILE – DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the tragedy was “completely avoidable.” (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This tragedy was completely avoidable. Musammat Shamima Begum and Areebah Jahin should still be alive. ICE has lodged a detainer asking officials in Maryland to commit to not releasing this killer back onto our streets,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their family, and for a swift recovery for those who were injured.”
Responding officers at the scene of the crash said Caballero-Nolasco smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech after the crash. He did not show any signs of braking before the crash, FOX 5 reported.
“There were some beer bottles that he admitted that he had been drinking,” said Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “There were other bottles that were empty and full bottles were found within the vehicle.”
Caballero-Nolasco was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to the Montgomery County Detention Center.