Police: Driver charged in Fort Mill dad's death is in U.S. illegally

Police: Driver charged in Fort Mill dad's death is in U.S. illegally
Published: Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011 / Updated: Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011 05:49 AM

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.

CHARLOTTE --

A driver charged with hitting and killing a man over the weekend appears to be in the country illegally in addition to not having a driver's license, according to the Mecklenburg Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say Delvin Joel Marin-Contreras hit and killed swim team volunteer Bill Sweezer of Fort Mill on Saturday on the Interstate 277 loop near Carson Boulevard.

Sweezer and wife, Bobette, were driving their two sons, Brandon, 14, and David, 13, to the Southeastern Age Groups Champs meet about 7:20 a.m. Saturday when Sweezer's car crashed into the back of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police cruiser on Interstate 277 near Carson Boulevard.

The officer driving that car had stopped to help a car stranded in the breakdown lane. Sweezer got out of his car and was talking to two officers, when a Toyota 4Runner slammed into his car. The 4Runner, driven by Marin, struck and killed Sweezer. The officers were also injured.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office says after the crash and Marin's arrest, they asked him where he was from. He told them Honduras.

The Sheriff's Office participates in the federal 287(g) program, which begins deportation proceedings on people in the country illegally. Marin had been cited for no operators' license twice before, but because he had never been arrested and taken to the Mecklenburg jail, the Sheriff's Office had never checked his immigration status, said Spokeswoman Julia Rush.

This weekend, deputies checked Marin's name and found no paper trail showing he is in the country legally. Court records show Marin has prior citations for driving without a license. But in those instances jail officials say Marin wasn't arrested.

Now, the misdemeanor death by vehicle and driving without a license charges stemming from the crash take priority over his immigration status.