ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A 21-year-old man accused of a fatal DUI hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 22-year-old in New Mexico has been identified as an undocumented immigrant, authorities confirmed.
Jesus Sandoval-Martinez was arrested early Monday and faces multiple charges, including two counts of vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in great bodily harm or death. Officials allege Sandoval-Martinez was intoxicated when his Dodge pickup truck collided with a Tesla and a Toyota Corolla at an Albuquerque intersection late Sunday night.
Witnesses reported that Sandoval-Martinez appeared visibly impaired and slurred his words before fleeing the scene on foot. Bystanders pursued him to a nearby Walgreens, where they detained him until law enforcement arrived.
The crash resulted in the death of the Tesla driver, identified as 22-year-old Tiger Gutierrez. A passenger in the Tesla was hospitalized, while the driver of the Toyota sustained minor injuries. Authorities confirmed that Sandoval-Martinez ran a red light, leading to the fatal collision.
Following his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed an immigration detainer against Sandoval-Martinez, a Mexican national, citing probable cause for his removal from the U.S. ICE officials revealed that this was their first encounter with Sandoval-Martinez, who lacked a Social Security number and a valid driver’s license.
The incident highlights a broader trend of rising criminal activities among undocumented migrants. Recent data shows a significant increase in the number of “criminal noncitizens” attempting to enter the U.S., with over 13,000 apprehended by Border Patrol agents in the current fiscal year, compared to 4,269 in 2019.