Migrant worker pleads guilty in fatal crash

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/app ... /1002/NEWS

Migrant worker pleads guilty in fatal crash


Michael Zeigler
Staff writer

September 20, 2006 12:00 pm — An illegal immigrant will be jailed one year and deported for fleeing a two-car crash that killed a Hamlin woman.

Crombel Cruz-Sipreanas, 29, pleaded guilty today to a felony of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and a violation of failure to yield the right of way at a stop sign in the Feb. 12 death of Maria C. Lester, 51.

Cruz-Sipreanas, a migrant worker from Mexico who lived in Clarkson, said he was driving east on Hamlin-Clarkson Town Line Road, failed to see a stop sign in the dark, and collided with Lester's car, which was heading south on Lake Road.

Lester, who volunteered to help migrant workers, wasn't wearing a seat belt. The impact threw her from her car.

Cruz-Sipreanas, who was injured in the crash and was found in nearby woods, has been held in Monroe County Jail since his arrest. Because he'll be given time off for good behavior, he's expected to be released shortly after his sentencing Oct. 4.

But federal officials have filed a detainer to hold him on immigration-violation charges and he is expected to be deported to his native country after his release from jail, state Supreme Court Justice Joseph D. Valentino said during the guilty plea.

Lester's family consented to the plea and sentence, said Assistant District Attorney Jason Abbott. Because Cruz-Sipreanas suffered head injuries during the crash, the prosecution might have had a hard time proving that he was aware of what he was doing when he fled after the crash, Abbott said.

A reconstruction of the crash showed no evidence of recklessness or erratic driving that could have resulted in a homicide charge, Abbott said.

MZEIGLER@DemocratandChronicle.com

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net

Hamlin Woman Dies After Crash
Bud Lowell


ROCHESTER, NY (2006-02-13) A Hamlin woman died Monday afternoon at Strong Memorial Hospital after she was hurt in a two-car crash Sunday night in western Monroe County.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Department says a car missed a stop sign at Hamlin-Clarkson Townline Road and Route 19, and hit a car driven by 51-year-old Maria Lester. Lester was taken to Strong in critical condition, where she later died.

The driver who failed to stop was Crombel Cruz-Sipreanas of Redman Road. He was ticketed for leaving the scene and driving without a license.

The U.S. Border Patrol. put a detainer on him after deputies found he was an illegal alien. He was being held in the Monroe County Jail.


http://www.rochesterathome.com/Detail.a ... 59&mid=315

2/13/2006
Fatal Two Car Accident In Hamlin, Border Patrol Detains Driver
(Hamlin, NY) -- A Hamlin woman died this afternoon from injuries she suffered in an accident in Hamlin. According to Monroe County Sheriff's investigators an illegal alien who was detained by the border patrol has since been sent to the Monroe County Jail. Investigators say 28-year-old Crombel Cruz-Sipreanas failed to stop at the intersection of Route 19 and Hamlin-Clarkson Town line road yesterday afternoon, hitting 51-year-old Maria Lester's car. Police say Cruz-Sipreanas left the scene of the accident but they found him nearby a short time later. Since Cruz-Sipreanas is in the country illegally he was also detained by the U.S. Border Patrol. Cruz-Sipreanas was charged with driving without a license, leaving the scene of a serious accident and driving an uninspected vehicle. Cruz-Sipreanas has been jailed since Maria Lester's death this afternoon.