Political leaders weigh in after man illegally living in Arkansas faces charges following deadly crash

PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. – Political leaders are reacting after a man from Honduras who was living in Arkansas illegally was arrested in connection to a deadly crash in Pulaski County.

According to Arkansas State Police, 30-year-old Maynor Yair Sorto-Herrera was arrested on Sept. 9 in connection with a crash that killed 48-year-old Jennifer Ann Morton of Little Rock near Arch Street.

ASP officials said that Herrera was driving a truck south on Arch Street on the morning of Sept. 8 when his vehicle crossed into the northbound lane, striking Morton’s car.

Investigators said Herrera is a native of Honduras and has been illegally living in Alexander.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders made a statement Monday saying how every tool would be available to prosecute the man responsible while also criticizing the Biden-Harris administration on its border policies.

“It’s time for the federal government to step up, close the border, and end the mayhem in our communities,” Sanders said.

Immigration and border issues have been a focal point in politics, like during the presidential debate.

Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton also weighed in on the arrest, with the Republican lawmaker claiming that the crash was the effect of “reckless policies.”

“This tragedy is another sobering reminder that reckless policies can turn every state into a border state,” Cotton said on X .

State Sen. Clarke Tucker (D – Little Rock) pushed back on those comments, stating that the Natural State’s junior senator could have already taken more action to address concerns at the U.S. southern border.

“If Sen. Cotton is concerned about the border and reckless policies, then he needs to do his job and work with other Senators to get a bill passed, whether Donald Trump wants to use it as an election issue or not,” Tucker said.

Herrera was charged with negligent homicide, battery, DUI, violation of the Concealed Weapons Act, reckless driving, driving without a license, failure to stop after an accident with death and other traffic violations. He pleaded not guilty to his charges last week and is scheduled to be back in court in November.

He is currently being held in the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State police noted he was previously deported from the United States in 2018.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.