Man charged in fatal Christmas wreck

December 29, 2009

* Comments (5)

A man believed to be in the country illegally has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication in connection with a fatal Christmas morning wreck.

Ramon Nerl Olea, 22, was northbound on Haywood Lane at 8:30 a.m. when he lost control of his car and crashed into a vehicle driven by Moni Rai, 22, police said in a news release.

Tika Koirala, 46, of Hickory Trace Drive, a passenger in the back seat of Rai’s car, was critically injured and died today at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Officers reported that Olea smelled of alcohol and a blood sample was taken for testing. He was treated at Vanderbilt and released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

ICE placed a federal immigration hold on Olea, saying he is suspected of illegally entering the country.

Rai and two other passengers in her car were treated and released at Southern Hills Medical Center.

www.tennessean.com