An illegal immigrant from Honduras accused of killing a pedestrian in a deadly hit-and-run tried to flee the country but was nabbed by federal agents at a New Jersey airport.
The suspected driver, 26-year-old Josue David Carranza-Castellon, was arrested a day after the crash as he tried to board a flight to Honduras on June 18 at Newark International Airport.
Carranza-Castellon is also a convicted sex offender who remained in the country illegally for a decade, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
His background was flagged after local police issued an arrest warrant for vehicular homicide in connection with the June 17 hit-and-run in Gaithersburg, Maryland, about 30 miles north of Washington, D.C.
Homeland Security Investigations coordinated his arrest with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Newark, DHS said.
Carranza-Castellon illegally entered the United States as a minor in Texas in 2016, DHS said. He fled to New Jersey following the wreck and had plans to hightail it out of the country.
“Josue David Carranza-Castellon thought he could flee from justice,” DHS shared on social media. “His criminal history also includes a prior conviction for fourth-degree sex offense and an arrest for lewd or lascivious acts with a CHILD. Thanks to the men and women of HSI, this criminal’s crime spree is OVER.”
Local police were looking for Carranza-Castellon following a fatal hit-and-run that occurred around 4:47 a.m. Wednesday, June 17. The collision involved a gray 2011 Honda CR-V and a pedestrian.
The Montgomery County Police Department also announced his arrest and said he has no fixed address. The Collision Reconstruction Unit’s detectives identified Carranza- Castellon as the suspect responsible for the hit-and-run after locating his vehicle.
According to investigators, Carranza-Castellion was behind the wheel when his vehicle left the roadway for “unknown reasons.” His CR-V entered a grassy median and struck 56-year-old Brian Roy Longaberger.
Longaberger died at the scene, while Carranza-Castellon reportedly took off and ditched his vehicle. Gaithersburg City Police officers found the Honda CR-V with a broken windshield and front-end damage several hours later, police said.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Carranza-Castellion on charges of manslaughter by vehicle and failure to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Following his arrest, police said he was being held in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but would be extradited to Maryland. DHS officials did not say whether he will face criminal proceedings or be processed for removal by immigration officials.
