A 14-year-old Texas student was killed after a car driven by an illegal immigrant allegedly crashed into the back of her grandparents’ vehicle Thanksgiving evening. Authorities say the Mexican man was driving at a high rate of speed and ran a red light.
The family of Rhyan Moody, a cheerleader at Colleyville Heritage High School, says a drunk driver caused the fatal collision and her grandparents were injured.
Moody’s stepfather, Caines Johnson, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “She was coming home from dinner with her grandmother and grandfather in Fort Worth. The driver was going 68 [miles per hour] in a 40 and T-boned their car.”
The casualty occurred in Lake Worth, a suburb of Fort Worth.
Police arrested 38-year-old Jose Victor Chaparro-Saenz and charged him with manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest, Fox 4 News in Dallas reported.
Breitbart Texas confirmed with officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that Chaparro-Saenz is a Mexican national who illegally entered the U.S. in 1998. Immigration officials at that time offered the Chaparro-Saenz the opportunity to voluntarily return to Mexico. Immigration officials had no contact with the man following his return to Mexico.
Immigration officials explained that a Voluntary Return (VR) does not have the same legal consequences as a deportation.
Upon learning of Chaparro-Saenz’ arrest, immigration officials placed a detainer on him to secure custody of the man if he is released from the Tarrant County jail.
The local Fox affiliate reported that first responders found alcohol in Chaparro-Saenz’s SUV and he appeared to be intoxicated.
“He rolled up the window on officers and wouldn’t get out of the vehicle,” Lake Worth Police Department Chief Corry Blount told reporters.
Officers had to break the glass and unlock the door to get to the suspect. He tried to fight the officers, the police chief explained. The officers successfully subdued and handcuffed him.
A mugshot of the illegal immigrant shows that he had blood on his face and a black eye.
Chaparro-Saentz is being held without bond and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration hold on him.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that Moody died from blunt force head trauma sustained during the crash, the Star-Telegram reported.
“She was truly an outstanding young woman. She was the nicest, most kind-hearted person to her family, friends, and anyone who needed help,” Moody’s stepfather Gaines Johnson told reporters. “This wasn’t an accident. It was just a senseless, reckless, and selfish act.”
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX, Gab, and Facebook.
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