Thread: WI: Deadly Crash Leads To Illegal Immigrant Investigation

Deadly Crash Leads To Illegal Immigrant Investigation
Occupants Of Landscaping Truck Face Deportation Hearings
POSTED: 8:02 pm CDT March 30, 2009
UPDATED: 8:18 pm CDT March 30, 2009


The three men in the landscaping truck that struck a sport utility vehicle in Washington County Sunday morning -- killing three people -- have been jailed as illegal immigrants.

The sheriff said the driver, Ricardo Guerrero, and his passengers -- Armando and Javier Guerrero -- both revealed in interviews after the crash that they were in the United States illegally.

The three men are being held in the Washington County jail.

A communications officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent a statement to 12 News that stated, "I can confirm that ICE placed detainers on these individuals, and they will be turned over to ICE custody and placed into deportation proceedings."

State records show that Guerrero received a valid driver's license in October 2006 before Wisconsin started requiring proof of legal presence in 2007. He received numerous minor moving violations since his license was issued.

A recording at Terra Tec Landscapes -- the Richfield, Wis. Company that owns the truck and employed the Guerreros -- said the company was closed Monday out of respect for the families.

The Washington County sheriff told 12 News his department is conducting a separate investigation into Terra Tec and the Guerreros' employment there.

Sheriff's Department Investigating Crash, Survivors Remain In Hospital

The victims' families have been holding vigil at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee where two 11-year-old children and a 14-year-old are being treated. Another survivor of the crash remains at Froedtert Hospital.

The Ziebart family and two family friends were on their way to a church event when the accident occurred. The tight knit group is devastated following the deaths of Karl Ziebart; his 9-year-old son, Luke and 12-year-old Cara Peters.

Investigators said road conditions were nasty -- slushy and icy -- when the two vehicles collided on Highway 164 in Washington County.

"The vehicles actually both turned in the same direction. Once the truck started crossing the other line, the other drive attempted to avoid it, and so they ended up hitting side to side," Washington County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said.

Schmidt said the sheriff's department completed an 'accident reconstruction' at the scene and is now trying to piece together the details.

http://www.wisn.com/news/19049910/detail.html

Oh My, that's so sad. Heartbreaking. An accident that wouldn't have happened if these people hadn't been in our country, because then they wouldn't have been on that road in nasty slushy conditions they don't know how to drive on.

Anywhere you find the majority of crimes in our country..........you find an illegal involved....................

Landscape Company Receives Hate Mail Over Fatal Crash
Accident Report Blames Suspected Illegal Immigrant Driver

POSTED: 10:00 pm CDT April 1, 2009
UPDATED: 10:39 pm CDT April 1, 2009

RICHFIELD, Wis. -- A fatal crash in which a landscaping truck driven by a suspected illegal immigrant collided with a sport utility vehicle Sunday is stirring up new anger over U.S. immigration laws.

Related Story:

* March 29, 2009: 3 Dead In Washington Co. Crash

Terra Tec Landscapes, the company that employed the three workers in the truck, has been receiving hate e-mails from people saying things like: "you are responsible," "you should all be ashamed," and you have "blood on your hands."

The accident report was filed Wednesday night, and it officially blamed the driver of the landscaping truck. No citations have been issued yet, but the report said the truck was going "too fast for conditions."

The three brothers in the landscaping truck are in the custody of federal immigration authorities. They face possible deportation.

Ricardo Guerrero was driving and had a valid license. The attorney for Terra Tec Landscaping said the brothers had filled out all the required employment forms.

"I say this is not necessarily an immigration issue. This is a tragedy that there are people in good families that died," attorney Jerry Grzeca said. "The company is sort of reeling from this. They've been put in a very difficult situation, and they feel as though they're being sort of wrongfully accused. Because even if it is proven that these individuals did not have proper work status, to what extent should they (the company) be harassed about that and harangued, when they didn't know that at the time?"

A law firm representing Peters' family, however, disagreed.

"The company is responsible for screening employees correctly -- their training and experience, and their conduct on the road," a statement read.

Besides the three fatalities -- Karl Ziebart, his son, Luke, and family friend Cara Peters -- four other passengers in the sport utility vehicle were seriously hurt. Peters' 11-year old brother is still in intensive care. Three members of the Ziebart family -- the mother and two children -- are still hospitalized, but 12 News was told they are out of intensive care.

Cara Peters' funeral will be held Saturday. A memorial fund has been set up in her name, with contributions accepted at any M&I Bank branch.

Previous Stories:

* March 30, 2009: Deadly Crash Leads To Illegal Immigrant Investigation
* March 30, 2009: Brookfield Church Mourns Loss Of Father, Son
* March 29, 2009: 3 Dead In Washington Co. Crash

http://www.wisn.com/news/19071390/detail.html