An undocumented immigrant from Mexico with a history of multiple deportations has been charged in connection with a fatal vehicle collision that killed a 6-year-old North Carolina girl and seriously injured her mother and 4-year-old sibling. Jaime Santiago Corona was allegedly driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck on July 3 when he failed to stop at a stop sign in Pitt County, colliding with an SUV.
Calli Toler, 6, was pronounced dead at the scene, while her mother, Kelli Toler, 35, and her sibling were transported to ECU Health Greenville with serious injuries. The family was reportedly on their way to get lunch before heading to a swimming pool at the time of the crash.
Authorities stated that Corona was driving with a revoked license and has illegally re-entered the U.S. three times. His charges include misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to stop for a stop sign, careless and reckless driving, and driving while a license was revoked. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Corona's criminal history includes prior incidents of driving under the influence, homicide-negligent manslaughter with a vehicle, multiple counts of obstruction of police, failure to appear, and various traffic offenses.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer hold for Corona, and the Pitt County Sheriff's Office has stated it will cooperate with ICE. DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis described the tragedy as "100% preventable."