Man previously deported three times accused in crash that killed 6-year-old North Carolina girl

PITT COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A federal grand jury has indicted a 33-year-old Mexican national on a charge of illegally reentering the United States after authorities say he was previously deported three times and was later involved in a Pitt County crash that killed a 6-year-old girl.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Jaime Santiago-Corona, also known as Jaime Guzman Corona, was indicted July 22 on one count of illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.

Federal prosecutors allege Santiago returned to the United States without authorization after being deported in October 2019, June 2023, and June 2024.

The federal charge follows a July 3 crash at the intersection of County Home Road and Warren Jones Road in Pitt County.

Authorities allege Santiago ran a stop sign before colliding with a vehicle occupied by a mother and her two children. The mother and her 4-year-old daughter suffered serious injuries, while 6-year-old Calli was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following the crash, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol charged Santiago with several offenses, including misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also placed a detainer on him, requesting that North Carolina officials hold him in custody.

If convicted of the federal illegal reentry charge, Santiago faces up to two years in federal prison followed by deportation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on immigration enforcement, transnational criminal organizations and violent crime.

The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO).