Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON, Texas -- A man accused of causing a fiery wreck that killed a family of three on the East Freeway is in the country illegally, authorities said.
Juan Felix Salinas, 42, voluntarily returned to his home in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, two years ago, officials said. But he returned to the U.S., eventually making his way back to the Houston area.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Monday they have placed an immigration hold on Salinas but had no other information about his past.
Salinas remained in police custody Monday, charged with three counts of intoxication manslaughter in the deaths of Tenisha Williams, 26; her husband, S.J. Williams; and her son, Xavier Brown, 2. His bail has been set at $90,000 — $30,000 for each death.
Houston police said Salinas was speeding and rapidly changing lanes about 8:30 p.m. Saturday when he rear-ended a Toyota Corolla in the 8700 block of Interstate 10.
The Toyota caught fire and eventually was engulfed in flames. The family was pronounced dead at the scene.
Salinas, who suffered minor injuries in the wreck, had a blood-alcohol level of .24 — three times the .08 legal limit for intoxication in Texas.
Posted by tyne at August 15, 2007