Illegal Alien Accused of Fatal Crash Killing Innocent Man and Injuring Elderly Woman During Police Chase in California
PLACENTIA, CA – A 21-year-old Colombian national, identified by federal authorities as an illegal alien, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony evading after allegedly causing a devastating multi-vehicle crash while fleeing from police in Orange County. The collision resulted in the death of a 59-year-old father and left an 83-year-old woman injured.
The suspect, Darwin Felipe Bahamon Martinez, is accused of leading Anaheim Police on a high-speed pursuit on the evening of January 21. According to law enforcement reports, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a Jeep Gladiator driven by Martinez near Mira Loma and Lawrence avenues after observing reckless driving. Authorities state that Martinez initially appeared to yield but then accelerated away, initiating a chase that spanned several minutes and crossed city lines into Placentia.
The pursuit ended in tragedy at the intersection of Bradford and Madison avenues. Investigators report that Martinez’s vehicle slammed into a Honda sedan and a Dodge van. The driver of the Honda, identified as 59-year-old Jose Antonio Ramos Hernandez, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Dodge, an 83-year-old woman, was transported to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Immigration Status and Legal Background
Following the arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Martinez is in the country illegally. According to a statement from the ICE Los Angeles field office, Martinez entered the United States near Chula Vista, California, in August 2023. Federal officials stated he was processed and released into the U.S. interior under previous “catch-and-release” protocols pending immigration proceedings.
“If that hadn’t happened, the innocent 59-year-old driver he allegedly killed may still be alive today,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement regarding the suspect’s release and subsequent criminal behavior.
ICE has since lodged an immigration detainer against Martinez, requesting that local authorities notify federal agents before his release. However, this request highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and California’s “sanctuary state” laws. Under the California Values Act (SB 54), local law enforcement agencies are generally restricted from using resources to investigate, interrogate, detaining, or arresting people for immigration enforcement purposes, a policy that critics argue shields criminal offenders from deportation and endangers public safety.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Martinez has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, evading a police officer causing death, and reckless driving. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A judge has set his bail at $2 million, and he remains in custody at the Orange County Jail.
The incident has reignited fierce debate regarding border security measures and the supervision of foreign nationals released into the country. Critics of the current system point to this tragedy as a preventable outcome of lenient border policies, while local community members mourn the sudden loss of Hernandez, described by family as a beloved father and hardworking resident.
“We are heartbroken,” said a family member of the victim in a brief statement to local press. “He was just driving home. It is unfair that his life was taken this way.”
As the investigation continues, the Orange County District Attorney’s office is preparing for a preliminary hearing scheduled for mid-March.
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