Man wanted in fatal Pike County, Ind., crash arrested in Missouri

By Mark Wilson

Posted October 14, 2011 at 4:13 p.m., updated October 14, 2011 at 4:13 p.m

A man wanted in connection with a fatal crash in Pike County, Ind., changed his name but his fingerprints led to his identification, arrest and ultimate return to face charges.

Jesus Perez Hernandez, 22, made an initial appearance in Pike Circuit Court on Friday. Attorney Douglas Walton, of Evansville, was appointed to represent him and his bond amount was left at $1 million cash.

He was arrested at an apartment complex in Bridgeton, Mo., near St. Louis and returned to Petersburg, Ind., last week, said Pike County Sheriff Jeremy Britton.

"He was using four different aliases," he said.

Hernandez is facing charges of operating a motor vehicle causing death, operating a motor vehicle causing serious bodily injury and involuntary manslaughter.

Britton said Hernandez, formerly of Washington, Ind., was the driver of vehicle that left the road and crashed at the intersection of Indiana 57 and County Road 200 North on the morning of Jan. 9.

The accident killed a passenger, 29-year-old Kristy Blanco, of Washington, Ind. Another passenger, Luna Rogelio, also of Washington, was thrown from the vehicle and injured, Britton said.

Hernandez's blood tested positive for marijuana and alcohol, according to the sheriff's report, with a blood alcohol level of 0.17 percent.

Britton said Hernandez left the area after being released from the hospital. Investigators had unconfirmed information that he may have gone to Mexico and then Texas, but no solid leads.

However, Britton said investigators worked with federal immigration officials who identified Hernandez as an illegal immigrant whose fingerprints were on file because he had once been deported from the country. The information was then entered into the FBI's National Crime Information Center database where it became available to law enforcement agencies nationwide.

When Bridgeton police responded to a complaint at an apartment complex and became suspicious of the name a man — later identified as Hernandez — gave them, they detained and fingerprinted him.

"The information came up and they held him on our warrant," Britton said.

Hernandez, who is also being held for a federal immigration hearing, is next scheduled to appear in court at 9:45 a.m. Nov. 14.

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