INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – The man accused of driving drunk and killing a Colts player and Uber driver now knows how much trouble he’s in.
Wednesday, the Marion County prosecutor charged Manuel Orrego-Savala with leaving the scene of a wreck and causing the deaths while driving drunk.
The case is attracting national attention, including tweets by President Donald Trump that could affect the trial.
So disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed @Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson. This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border, and with illegal immigration, FAST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2018
Manuel Orrego-Savala’s attorney, hired a day before the initial hearing, was already worried that his client won’t get a fair trial.
“I have serious concerns about that for the fact that he is an illegal immigrant and the peoples know that,” Torres said.
Orrego-Savala, police claim, was severely intoxicated when his pickup crashed early Sunday morning, killing Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson and Uber driver Jeffery Monroe.
“One of the things we want to do is bring justice to the families,” chief trial deputy prosecutor Ryan Mears said after the hearing.
Investigators need to put Orrego-Savala in the driver’s seat of the pickup that crashed. He was seen running away and, according to court documents, admitted driving the truck, but then stopped answering a police officer’s questions. Prosecutors want Orrego-Savala’s DNA to compare it to blood found in the truck.
“It would be a helpful piece of evidence, but we believe there is strong circumstantial evidence in the case,” Mears said.
Orrego-Savala has numerous identities. Federal authorities say the Guatemalan is in the U.S. illegally and was deported twice before.
Tuesday, President Trump tweeted, “So disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson.” The President did not mention Monroe in his tweet.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry called the comments about the deadly crime “ghoulish and inappropriate.”
“Politicize it to talk about border security and ignoring the fact a second innocent man had died in this incident. It’s fair to say we were beyond aggravated,” he said.
Curry went on to explain that even with the publicity, he believes Orrego-Savala will get a fair trial.
“We have a horrible accident that’s resulted in the death of two individuals and we will prosecute the case like any other case,” he said.
Orrego-Savala has previous drunk driving convictions. Federal authorities are pursuing immigration charges.
Considered a flight risk and threat to public safety, Orrego-Savala is jailed on a $200,000 bond. That’s five times higher than the bond typically associated with the charges against him.
Orrego-Savala will be tried on the criminal charges, before facing immigration charges in federal court.