Overview
- Illinois State Police said a van crossed the center line in Westfield and struck a truck head-on Friday, killing Coles County board member Mike Clayton and his wife, Gail, at the scene and sending two others in the truck to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
- Driver Edwin Pacheco-Meza, 34, was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI, and later cited for not having a valid license, failing to drive on the right side of the road, and failing to reduce speed; a judge denied him pretrial release.
- ICE said Pacheco-Meza is a Honduran national living in the U.S. illegally and confirmed it has lodged an immigration detainer requesting notification of any release and up to 48 hours’ hold for transfer to federal custody.
- DHS said the 18-year-old passenger, identified as Juan Morales-Martinez of Guatemala, also entered the U.S. illegally; local reports say he is now in ICE custody for immigration proceedings.
- State police declined to disclose immigration status under the Illinois TRUST Act, while Republican lawmakers criticized state and federal immigration policies in statements following the crash.