Driver who struck preschool teacher was in country illegally, ICE says

Fox59
Juana Noemi Loa-Nunez.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Immigration officials say a woman who allegedly hit a preschool teacher crossing the street and tried to flee the scene was in the country illegally, Fox59 reported.

Juana Noemi Loa-Nunez, 36, from Mexico, is accused of hitting Jessica Parks, 27, on Monday morning while Parks crossed 38th Street to go to work at Fervent Prayer Church on the east side. They say Parks sustained serious injuries to her legs and lower body.

Immediately after the accident, witnesses say the car, driven by Loa-Nunez, quickly fled.

Several people chased Loa-Nunez down the street to stop her from leaving the scene.

Van Williams, a bus driver for Fervent Prayer Church and Parks’ co-worker, was able to veer his bus in front of Loa-Nunez, and another witness, Shayna Pearson, pulled up behind her to prevent her from escaping.

IMPD officers took Loa-Nunez in for questioning and a blood draw at a local hospital. Monday afternoon, police said Loa was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident causing serious bodily injury, and operating a vehicle having never received a license.

On Tuesday, ICE released the following statement about Loa-Nunez:

“On May 8, 2018, deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed an immigration detainer and an administrative arrest warrant with the Marion County (Indiana) Jail, following Loa-Nunez’s local arrest on criminal charges.”

This story originally appeared on Fox59.com.