Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer for Felipe Alvarado Hernandez, a 47-year-old man accused of driving a pickup truck onto a downtown Nashville sidewalk and injuring four people. Police say the truck struck the victims while Hernandez was attempting to turn left. One victim remained hospitalized in a burn unit as of July 29, while two others reportedly required wheelchairs. Hernandez faces multiple traffic and failure-to-assist charges after his arrest more than a month after the incident.
The Department of Homeland Security said Hernandez entered the United States at an unknown date and location. Immigration officials also said he had previously agreed to leave the country in 2004 after a Michigan police referral connected to a retail fraud arrest that was later dropped.
| 1) | Crash injured four people in downtown Nashville |
|---|---|
| 2) | Charges followed a delayed arrest |
| 3) | ICE lodged a detainer after the charges |
| 4) | Immigration history includes a 2004 departure agreement |
| 5) | Investigators used license plate reader technology |
Crash injured four people in downtown Nashville
The incident occurred in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, when a pickup truck allegedly moved onto a sidewalk during a left turn. According to police information, the vehicle struck four people. The reported injuries included two victims who needed wheelchairs, and a Department of Homeland Security official said one person was still receiving treatment at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Burn Unit on July 29.
The allegations concern a hit-and-run crash because the driver was accused of leaving the scene rather than providing information or aid. The circumstances described by police place the vehicle, the pedestrians and the alleged failure to remain at the scene at the center of the investigation.
Charges followed a delayed arrest
Hernandez was arrested more than a month after the downtown crash. The supplied police account gives June 13 in connection with the arrest information and separately states that he was arrested on July 28, creating a discrepancy in the reported dates. The available account does not explain the difference.
The charges listed against Hernandez are leaving the scene of an accident, failing to give information or render aid, failing to file a report involving injury or damage, violating financial responsibility requirements in a case involving injury, and driving with a revoked license. These are allegations, and the charges do not establish guilt.
ICE lodged a detainer after the charges
ICE New Orleans lodged a detainer for Hernandez after he was charged, according to a DHS official. A detainer is a request from immigration authorities asking a law enforcement agency to notify ICE before releasing a person and, where applicable, to maintain custody for a limited period so immigration officials can assume custody.
The agency said its interest followed the Nashville charges and the alleged danger to members of the public. Scott Ladwig, acting field office director for Enforcement and Removal Operations in New Orleans, said ICE would work with law enforcement partners when people who are unlawfully present are accused of violating the law.
“When illegal aliens break our laws and endanger our communities, ICE will work with our law enforcement partners to ensure they face the consequences of their actions.”
Ladwig added that officers remain committed to enforcing the law professionally, protecting the public and maintaining public trust.
Immigration history includes a 2004 departure agreement
DHS said Hernandez entered the country at an unknown time and through an unknown location. The agency also said he agreed to leave the United States on January 5, 2004, after the Roseville Police Department in Michigan referred him to immigration authorities following an arrest for retail fraud.
That retail fraud case was later dropped, according to the account. The supplied information does not state whether Hernandez departed the country as agreed, when he may have returned, or what immigration proceedings occurred afterward. Those unresolved details are part of the broader immigration context surrounding the current detainer.
Investigators used license plate reader technology
Investigators used license plate reader technology to identify the pickup truck involved in the Nashville incident and obtain information connected to the vehicle. Such technology can help police trace a vehicle’s movements or identify its registered information, although the supplied account does not describe the specific reader location or the full investigative timeline.
The technology provided a lead after the alleged crash, while police and immigration officials handled separate responsibilities. Local authorities brought the criminal charges, and ICE pursued the immigration detainer after Hernandez was charged.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Four people were injured when a pickup truck allegedly entered a downtown Nashville sidewalk. |
| 2 | Hernandez faces charges including leaving the scene and driving with a revoked license. |
| 3 | ICE New Orleans lodged a detainer after the criminal charges were filed. |
| 4 | DHS said Hernandez had agreed to leave the country in 2004 after a Michigan arrest. |
Summary
The Nashville investigation combines alleged hit-and-run conduct, serious injuries and an immigration detainer. Hernandez faces state charges, while ICE seeks custody based on his immigration history and the current allegations. The reported arrest-date discrepancy remains unresolved in the available information, and the criminal allegations have not been adjudicated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Felipe Alvarado Hernandez?
Felipe Alvarado Hernandez is a 47-year-old man accused of driving a pickup truck onto a downtown Nashville sidewalk and injuring four people.
What charges does Hernandez face?
He faces charges related to leaving the scene, failing to provide information or aid, failing to file an accident report, a financial responsibility violation involving injury, and driving with a revoked license.
Why does ICE want custody of him?
ICE New Orleans lodged a detainer after Hernandez was charged. DHS also cited his immigration history, including a 2004 agreement to leave the United States.
How did investigators identify the vehicle?
Police used license plate reader technology to obtain information about the pickup truck allegedly involved in the crash.
