Javier Pena Sola
Police said they arrested Pena Sola on Tuesday, July 21, when he was discharged from the hospital and taken to the Rowan County Jail, where he remains without bail.

The accident that killed three people and involved a Hispanic immigrant who fled the scene drew the attention of immigration authorities because the driver was undocumented and driving without a license. driver's license

A July 22 statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicates that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed a arrest warrant or “detainer” requesting that North Carolina authorities not release him from jail.

Three Hispanics were the victims

The driver, identified as Javiel Pena Sola, who resides in Salisbury, fled the scene after fatally injuring three people in a collision between two vehicles at about 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, on NC 150 in that town. 

In one of the vehicles, two of the occupants were declared dead at the scene, while the third occupant was airlifted to a local hospital, but succumbed due to severe injuries. 

The three people who died and were traveling in a 2018 Kia Forte were identified as: David García Obrajero, 63, Homero Pineda Delgado, 47, and Esteban Salazar Hernández, 32. 

He fled on foot

The other vehicle driven by the immigrant, which authorities said belonged to a relative, was located a short distance away. 

After attempting to flee, Pena Sola crashed again 500 feet from the scene and escaped on foot, according to the report. Salisbury Police DepartmentBloodhounds were brought to the scene and shortly afterwards found the immigrant in a stream bed. 

“After being transferred to a hospital for treatment, the driver of the second vehicle, Javiel Pena Sola, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was charged with three counts of crash and flee the scene "Involving serious injury or death," the DHS states.

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He had been given bail of $1 million

Police said they arrested Pena Sola on Tuesday, July 21, when he was discharged from the hospital and taken to the Rowan County Jail, where he remains without bail. 

“A magistrate initially put a bail "The $1 million fine was imposed on Pena Sola. During his first appearance in Rowan County District Court on Wednesday, July 22, the court modified his release conditions, waiving bail," police said.  

He had a criminal record. 

The agency says Pena Sola, 44, entered the country illegally in 2002 through the Arizona border. 

“Sola’s criminal record includes prior convictions for reckless endangerment, failure to stop after an accident involving damage to an occupied vehicle, and driving without a license in Maryland in July 2015, in addition to an arrest for escape from custody,” the DHS statement said. 

Peña Sola disappeared after being released in 2016, according to federal authorities. 

After the storm

A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity. 

🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.

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Community journalist Enlace Latino NC. Of Colombian origin, Patricia covers a variety of topics related to the Latino community in North Carolina. Her journalistic work has been recognized...

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