Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
An alleged illegal immigrant has been charged with negligent driving in connection with a fatal traffic accident on I-83 last month. The single-vehicle crash, which reportedly involved speeding and alcohol use, happened in the early morning hours of June 21. The passenger in that car was killed as a result of the wreck.
As a Baltimore personal injury lawyer and auto accident attorney, my staff has represented victims of car, SUV and truck accidents as well as their families and estates. A fatal car or truck accident leaves a huge hole in the victim’s family, both emotionally and financially. Especially in cases where the victim was the sole breadwinner, his spouse and children can be overwhelmed by the medical costs and loss of income.
Insurance companies may not be very cooperative or take a long time to pay any benefits, leaving the family to cover the mounting expenses at the risk of losing their home and other possessions during what is likely the worst time of their lives.
A recent news report shows how a person can become a victim of a car crash caused in large part by the negligence of another individual. According to reports, 22-year-old Freddy Cortez Flores of Hyattsville was allegedly driving drunk on the morning that he lost control of his vehicle, killing his passenger, Carlos O. Cardoza Portillo, as a result.
Police reports indicate that Flores was driving north along I-83 near Guilford Ave. just before one in the morning. The driver apparently lost control of the car and swerved across the right-hand lanes causing the vehicle to strike the Jersey wall. Investigators believe that Cortez Flores was traveling about 65mph in a 40mph zone.
Portillo, who was wearing a safety belt at the time, was partially ejected following the impact with the wall. He was then dragged against the Jersey wall for nearly 600 feet before the vehicle came to a stop. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers at the scene noted that Cortez Flores’ speech was slurred and they also detected the distinctive smell of alcohol on the man’s breath, according to police reports. In a police interview conducted in Spanish, Cortez Flores said he had swerved to avoid an unknown vehicle that had swerved into his lane. He also admitted to police that he had consumed four beers prior to the accident — his blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.09 percent.
Although Cortez Flores apparently had a valid Maryland driver’s license, Police believe that he was in the U.S. illegally. Officers contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which placed an immigration detainer on the man.
Illegal immigrant charged in I-83 crash that killed passenger, BaltimoreSun.com, June 22, 2010