Thread: TN: Police: Illegal Immigrant Responsible For Crash

Police: Illegal Immigrant Responsible For Crash

Man's Legal Status Can't Be Investigated Due To Misdemeanor

Reported by Caroline Moses

POSTED: 4:04 pm CDT October 19, 2010
UPDATED: 6:21 pm CDT October 19, 2010


NASHVILLE, Tenn. --

Metro police suspect a man responsible for a crash that killed a father and injured his daughter is an illegal immigrant, the Channel 4 I-Team has learned. But there's nothing police can do about it.

Police said the father and daughter were riding their motorcycle on Springfield Highway. Jose Vasquez told officers he did not realize they were next to him when he changed lanes in his SUV, hitting and killing them.

Victims of the family said they're furious because police can't do anything to investigate Vasquez's legal status because he's only been charged with not having a license, a misdemeanor.

Rickey Otts Jr. said his dad managed somehow in his 59 years on this earth to leave nothing unsaid.

"There was nobody that walked the face of this earth that was more American than my dad," Otts said.

It's why Otts is now speaking up against what ended his dad's life too soon, he said.

"My father served this country, and for him to lose his life because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, because somebody was behind the wheel that never should have been behind the wheel …" is wrong, Otts said.

Police and witnesses told the I-Team that Vasquez had no driver's license and no insurance. Police said they also suspect Vasquez is in this country illegally.

"The worst part about it all was seeing them walk away, seeing them be told that they could leave," said Otts.

The crash happened in the middle of the afternoon. Vasquez wasn't under the influence, police said. As far as police can tell, they said, it was an accident.

Vasquez is only charged with a misdemeanor for driving without a license, and authorities cannot check his citizenship unless charges against him become serious enough to put him in jail.

"In Nashville, our agreement with the federal government has always said (that) upon being physically arrested, brought to the jail, then your status is checked," said Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall. "At no other point can that occur."

That's frustrating for the Otts family, they said. They want the man they said killed their father to face fair but more severe consequences.

"It's a lot more than race, language barriers, jobs; it's lives, man," said Otts.

The district attorney's office is looking into whether more serious charges can be filed against Vasquez.

Tiffany Coe, Otts Sr.'s daughter, is still at Vanderbilt Hospital. She has two broken legs and a broken hip, but she is in stable condition. Otts Sr.'s funeral is Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Woodbine Funeral Home on Nolensville Road.

http://www.wsmv.com/news/25444620/detail.html

"It's a lot more than race, language barriers, jobs; it's lives, man," said Otts.

Exactly! Who decided that some American deaths due to IAs is acceptable?

and so this guy will get to walk free after KILLING an american citizen ...

just like that ....

with no drivers license , and no auto insruance , i think it's safe to say that the man is proably judgment proof as well .... if he works under the table , then there will be nothing to garnish ...

at any point he can just pack up and move somewhere else , give another fake name , and that's the end of that for this man ....

meanwhile the dead mans family will suffer for who only knows how long ...

Unbelieveable...protect a potential illegal alien and to hell with the American citizen...This is not America any longer!

Crash Victim Loses Dad, Then TennCare
Tiffany Coe Homeless After Crash
Reported by Carley Gordon

POSTED: 9:30 pm CDT October 23, 2010
UPDATED: 8:00 pm CDT October 24, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --

Tiffany Coe was critically injured in a crash on Springfield Highway; her father, Ricky Otts Sr., was killed. Police said they were hit by an unlicensed driver who they suspect was in the country illegally. Now Coe, already down on her luck, is facing a whole new set of problems: On Saturday night, Coe learned she doesn't have anywhere to sleep.

After losing her father a week ago, one would think Coe's top priority would be grieving.

"I wasn't even able to go to my dad's funeral," said Coe.

Instead, she's been at Vanderbilt Medical Center with two broken legs, a broken hip and a broken arm.

"I have rods and pins in my hip, and my leg is messed up," said Coe.

"She needs to be around medical care 24 hours a day right now," said Ricky Daughtery, Coe's fiance.

On Saturday, Coe learned she can't get any medical care, and since none of her family members can take her in, she's homeless.

"I've been going through a lot of pain, and I've been scared because I don't know where I'm going to go," said Coe.

Coe's only form of insurance is TennCare, and Coe said she's used up all that TennCare will allow.

"They just told me that I was going to have to go," said Coe.

"We're human beings and they act like all they care about is money," said Daughtery.

Coe's plan was to try her luck at another hospital.

"We're hoping to get her into an emergency room at General Meharry Hospital. Hopefully, they will take her in," said Daughtery.

If that doesn't work, Coe said, she'll have to pray for help from someone or somewhere else.

"I feel hopeless and hurt. It just seems like people kick you when you're up and they kick you when you're down," said Coe.

Vanderbilt said it couldn't comment other than to say that Coe had been discharged.

On Saturday night, no one from TennCare was available for comment.

Anyone who would like to help can go to Regions Bank and donate to the Tiffany Coe Recovery Fund.

http://www.wsmv.com/news/25491549/detail.html

While the illegal invader responsible for all of this walks away with a traffic ticket! There needs to be laws passed that comes down hard on illegal invaders who kill Americans while in this country illegally when behind the wheel with no license or insurance. The reason it hasn't been done is because of political correctness!

What is up with the police, a person died and the guy admitted to being negligent.

I am surprised the lawyers aren't lining up represent her in the lawsuit.

.

Because the punishment for most if not all states for driving a motor vehicle without a license or insurance is a civil misdemeanor this is the loophole that allows numerous illegal aliens to drive around with no worries. The police still don't know who his alleged illegal alien is because they were not able to take his fingerprints or any other biometric identification such as DNA, ect. They will only have the name stated or on the Mexican Consulate ID card that is most likely going to be fake. So even if they want to charge him they may never find him again because they have no real means of tracking him down. She can try and sue him in civil court but we all know how that will end up so no attorney will even want this case without payment up front. One of my friends got into a similar accident in Phoenix with an admitted illegal alien with no license or insurance and my friend had to pay the $1,000 deductible and the insurance wrote the car off as a loss. And you wonder why the insurance rates are so much higher in Phoenix. I feel for this lady.

Negligent driving that causes a death is more serious than not having a license or insurance.

Originally Posted by Newmexican

Negligent driving that causes a death is more serious than not having a license or insurance.

Yes..but until our states see it that way and make the consequences more stiffer for driving without a license or insurance this is the effects we get when it comes to a life lost.

I do hope the state is able to put charges against the guy and hold him accountable.