The Department of Homeland Security said the man accused of killing a mother and daughter in a drunken, wrong-way crash in Montgomery County is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it lodged a detainer for Jose Antonio Caballero-Nolasco, 32, after he was charged last month in the crash on Interstate 270 that also left an 8-year-old girl fighting for her life.
“This tragedy was completely avoidable,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement. “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. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their family, and for a swift recovery for those who were injured.”
Montgomery County police said Ms. Begum, 46, and Ms. Jahin, 23, died in the Aug. 29 collision around 6:45 p.m. An 8-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, and a 62-year-old man endured minor injuries.
Prosecutors said at Mr. Caballero-Noalesco’s initial court hearing that the girl’s condition was upgraded to critical but stable.
At the hearing, prosecutors said callers reported a wrong-way driver on Interstate 495 minutes before the deadly crash.
The head-on collision occurred near I-270’s exit to Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda. Investigators said there was no evidence that cars had braked before crashing into each other.
Prosecutors said state troopers who responded to the crash found opened and unopened beer cans in Mr. Caballero-Noalesco’s car. He also reeked of alcohol and was slurring his words when taken to a hospital for treatment.
Mr. Caballero-Noalesco faces charges of negligent manslaughter by vehicle, homicide by motor vehicle while impaired and causing a life-threatening injury by vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
A Montgomery County District Court judge ordered him held behind bars due to his “extreme disregard for everyone.”
Homeland Security said it wasn’t sure where Mr. Caballero-Noalesco entered the country, but prosecutors said he has been in the U.S. for the last 10 years.
He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 6.
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