Illegal immigrant teen in fatal car crash no billed by grand jury

Teen could still face deportation

08:31 PM CST on Friday, December 14, 2007

By Scott E. Williams / Galveston County Daily News

A La Marque High School student will not face any felony charges in the street race that ended in the death of his best friend. But his legal troubles are not over.

Cristian Rico, 17, was back home with his family on Friday. The teen, who is in the country illegally, still faces possible deportation.

U.S. immigration officials released him from their custody that morning after a grand jury late Thursday declined to indict him on a charge of racing on a highway causing serious bodily injury or death.

Blake Ingles, 16, died Nov. 28 during what police alleged was an illegal street race. The two teens both were driving separate cars and both crashed.

A witness told police the two cars collided while racing along 34th Street in Texas City, which was torn up for repairs at the time.

The two teens were classmates and friends at La Marque High School.

Criminal defense attorney Roberto Torres, who represented Rico, said testimony by Ingles' family likely made the difference in the case.

“I truly think the main thing was that Blake's family did not want to see Cristian prosecuted,â€