Indianapolis Colts’ player killed in drunk driving accident

Early morning on Sunday, February 4th, illegal Guatemalan immigrant Manuel Orrego-Savala was under the influence of alcohol while driving, resulting in a fatal incident killing Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson along with his Uber driver, 54-year-old Jeffrey Monroe. Jackson and Monroe were standing outside of Monroe’s car along interstate 70 when they were hit by a black Ford F-150 truck. The impact of the hit threw one man into the center lane where he was then struck by another vehicle.

More than double Indiana’s legal limit, Salavas blood test showed a  blood alcohol level of 0.19%. Prosecutors later filed felony charges on the following Wednesday against Savala. Savala has been deported from the U.S twice before the accident, once in 2007 and once in 2009, making this his third time coming into the U.S illegally. He is currently still in the Marion County jail in Indiana and is facing several charges.

Some believe this incident could have been prevented if it wasn’t for Savala entering the states illegally, while others say it could have happened regardless. “Immigration status has little to do with drunk driving. The man did not kill Edwin Jackson because he was an illegal immigrant; he killed him because he was a drunk driver,” said senior Annie Keister. On the other hand, senior Hannah Traylor-Doyle said, “It could have been anyone driving, but it wasn’t. Savala has already been deported twice. If America had a better immigration system, I feel as if this could’ve been prevented.”

Although the controversy over whether the accident could have been prevented or not will continue, innocent lives were still lost and that is irrevocable.