Douglas County prosecutors have filed formal charges against an illegal immigrant accused of a deadly DUI hit & run.
Orline Carrasco-Zelaya, who also goes by the name of Edwin Elvir-Palma, faces felony motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident resulting in death, and DUI third offense aggravated. Carrasco-Zelaya is accused of running over Margarito Nava-Luna early Saturday morning near 104th & Manderson. Police say video surveillance from earlier in the evening shows Carrasco-Zelaya and Nava-Luna together at a bar, and shows Carrasco-Zelaya and Nava-Luna driving the car with Nava-Luna in the passenger seat. After striking Nava-Luna, Carrasco-Zelaya left the scene. Approximately twenty minutes after witnesses called 911 to report Nava-Luna had been struck and that the car had left the scene, Carrasco-Zelaya was pulled over by a Douglas County Sheriffs deputy. Carrasco-Zelaya showed signs of impairment and appeared intoxicated. Carrasco-Zelaya's chemical breath test revealed a blood alcohol level of .239.
Omaha Police and Douglas County Sheriff's deputies coordinated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which placed an immigration hold on Carrasco-Zelaya. ICE says the Honduran native is not in the U.S. legally. ICE plans to pursue deportation against Carrasco-Zelaya once his charges in Douglas County are resolved. ICE earlier said Carrasco-Zelaya was a wanted fugitive for a deportation order issued in 2012.
Carrasco-Zelaya faces up to 20 years in prison for motor vehicle homicide, and up to four years for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and up to 3 years for 3rd offense DUI. He was originally arrested for 4th DUI offense, but a search of court records only found two prior DUI convictions. Carrasco-Zelaya has arrests and convictions under his name and his alias in Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Florida.
He is due in court for his first appearance for these charges on Friday.
