An illegal immigrant who previously had been deported has been charged in a fatal drunken driving crash in Fairfax County, according to authorities.
Police said Carlos Sanchez-Ramos, 33, of Springfield, Va., has been charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter and other counts. Authorities said he lost control of his car on the Richmond
Highway near Ft. Belvoir on Monday, striking a northbound Ford Fusion and pushing it into oncoming traffic. The Fusion was struck head on, killing a 55-year-old Paul Krause, who leaves behind a wife and three daughters, NBC Washington's Chris Gordon reported.
"The family is suffering greatly," said his brother, Tom Krause.
A senior citizen couple in a southbound Mercedes were seriously injured.
Police said Sanchez-Ramos fled the scene with his 3-year-old son, Gordon reported. He was arrested a short distance away.
Court records show Sanchez-Ramos's blood-alcohol content was about twice the legal limit. Records show his driver's license was revoked after a drunken driving conviction in 2007, Gordon reported.
Immigration officials said Sanchez-Ramos was deported to his native Honduras in 2004 and later re-entered the United States illegally.
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Sanchez-Ramos has been charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, driving on an alcohol-related revoked license, child endangerment and two counts of hit-and-run, Fairfax County police Officer Tawny Wright said.
Some politicians said this is another example of the government letting down a family who lost a loved one because of an illegal immigrant who shouldn't have been in this country, Gordon reported, but for the family of Paul Krause, the issue is more about alcohol awareness than immigration policy.
"Whether legal or illegal, you should never get behind the wheel after drinking," Tom Krause said. "The pain and suffering will never go away."
Federal immigration authorities filed a detainer for his arrest after his case in Fairfax County is resolved.
