In a tragic incident in Oklahoma, a man accused of being in the United States illegally is facing serious charges following a fatal crash that claimed four lives. The accident occurred when the suspect allegedly drove the wrong way on a highway while intoxicated, according to state authorities.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Michael Rosario-Cruz, was taken into custody after being discharged from a hospital. He is now held at the Canadian County Jail, facing multiple charges. These include four counts of second-degree murder, two counts of DUI resulting in significant bodily injury, as well as charges related to carrying an open container, firearm possession, and driving under the influence while armed. Additionally, Rosario-Cruz is charged with driving in the wrong direction on a one-way road.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported that the devastating collision occurred on Friday morning. Rosario-Cruz was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 in Canadian County when he collided head-on with another vehicle.
Tragically, all four occupants of the second vehicle died in the crash, which caused the car to burst into flames. The victims were young adults, aged between 18 and 20, authorities confirmed.
They ranged in age from 18 to 20, authorities said.
The victims were identified as Kiercey Hickson, 20, Quincy Jones, 19, and Haliegh Salazar and Brad Palmer, both 18.
“Driving impaired is a reckless, life-changing decision,” the Highway Patrol said in a social media post announcing the charges. “The loss of these young lives will have a lasting impact on countless family members, friends, and communities.”
A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told Fox News Digital that Rosario-Cruz is the subject of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer request, meaning ICE has asked to be notified when he is released from custody so they can arrest him and begin deportation proceedings.
It was not clear when Rosario-Cruz entered the US, nor his country of origin.
Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The four victims were recently remembered at a vigil at El Reno High School, where three of them had recently graduated, News9 reported.
Nancy Salsman, a retired teacher, said three of the victims were once students in her second-grade classroom.
“You just make that connection that never goes away,” she told the news outlet. “They’re always your kids. And when something like this happens we come together.”