Couple Killed in SUV Crash on West Cecil Avenue while Fleeing from ICE Agents
DELANO, CA (March 13, 2018) – A couple fleeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were killed when their SUV crashed on West Cecil Avenue, on Tuesday morning.
35-year-old Santos Hilario Garcia and 33-year-old Marcelina Garcia Profecto, both of Delano, stopped their vehicle when asked to pull over by law enforcement officers. But when the agents stepped out of their vehicle, the driver suddenly drove away, causing the car to veer onto the dirt shoulder of the road and lose control.
The SUV flipped over and only came to a stop when it hit a power pole in the 3000 block of West Cecil Avenue. Officers responded to the crash at around 6:54 AM and found the SUV on its roof with the two people inside. Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
ICE spokeswoman, Lori Haley, said that deportation agents were following Garcia and Profecto after surveilling a residence they believed belonged to a previously removed Mexican citizen. According to ICE, Garcia was not the person the agency was looking for, though he matched the target’s description.
Haley said Garcia, who was a Mexican citizen, voluntarily returned to Mexico three times between 2008 and 2017. He was deported under expedited removal in 2017, and also had a DUI conviction in 2014. Profecto had no previous encounters with ICE. United Farm Workers president Arturo Rodriguez identified Garcia and Profecto as farm workers and said that the two were looking for work when they were driving.
Police continue to investigate the fatal accident at this time.
A GoFundMe page was set-up to help the couples’ 18-year-old daughter take care of their five other children, along with her 19-month-old baby.
Wishing the family and friends of Santos Hilario Garcia and Marcelina Garcia Profecto strength and support in this difficult time.
If you or a loved has been involved in a serious car crash, reach out to the experienced lawyers of Sweet Law Group. With over 40 years of experience in the legal field, Sweet Law Group knows what it takes to win your wrongful death, auto accident, or personal injury case. Call our offices at (800) 203-3061 to arrange your free consultation with an experienced legal professional in your area. We can also be reached by email, text message, and online chat.
