Undocumented Immigrant's DUI Kills Two Children

An accident occurred Sunday afternoon in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where a drunk driver struck and killed two children riding bicycles. The incident happened around 12:20 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Asheville Highway and Brock Street, approximately 5 kilometers west of Spartanburg. The suspect, Eri Otoniel Roblero-Perez, was driving a 2016 Honda Accord eastbound when he veered out of his lane and struck the two boys. The two children killed in the accident were identified as 12-year-old Deearan James Robinson and 9-year-old Mikhail-Lee Smith, both residents of Spartanburg. The boys were transported to the hospital but died from their injuries.

Suspect Eri Otoniel Roblero-Perez has been charged with two counts of felony DUI causing death, as well as driving without a license and possessing an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. He was reportedly undocumented and not legally present in the U.S. The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office confirmed he was an illegal immigrant, and the judge also revealed during arraignment that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had issued an immigration detainer. The court denied bond at a hearing Monday, and he is currently being held at the Spartanburg County Jail. Prosecutors stated he showed clear signs of intoxication at the time of the accident, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and an inability to stand on his own.

There was one passenger in the suspect's vehicle who fled the scene and has not yet been located. The 12-year-old victim, Deearan James Robinson, was just days away from his 13th birthday.

Senator Tim Scott issued a statement saying, "My heart aches for the families who lost two young boys in South Carolina. I hope for swift and complete justice to be served."