masslive.com

Suspected illegal immigrant arrested after hit-and-run in Springfield
by The Republican Newsroom
Thursday July 24, 2008, 7:45 PM
By PATRICK JOHNSON
pjohnson@ repub.com

SPRINGFIELD - State police arrested a 31-year-old man on drunken driving and other motor vehicle charges in connection with a hit-and-run accident on Dover and Chestnut streets in the Springfield's North End that sent two to the hospital this afternoon.

Police arrested Abel Gomez, 31, on Birnie Avenue, a few blocks from the accident, about an hour after the wreck. He was walking in traffic, pounding on car windows and trying to get a ride, police said.

Gomez had no identification and police said they suspect he may be an illegal immigrant from Mexico or Guatemala.

State police said there have been several accidents in recent months involving illegal immigrants in unregistered vehicles. Police are trying to verify his identity through fingerprints.

The accident happened at about 4 p.m. Thursday. Police said Gomez drove a Ford minivan through a stop sign without slowing and crashed broadside into another vehicle.

The occupants of the other vehicle, a man and his young son, were taken to Baystate Medical Center. Their conditions were unknown.

Police did not know if they were wearing seat belts, but the vehicle's airbags did deploy.

After impact, Gomez and his passenger got out of the minivan and ran off, police said.

Gomez was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving without a license, driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, attaching false plates to a vehicle and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, police said.

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