Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sandra Yi Reporting
There are still a lot of questions about the suspected drunk driver who killed a woman and two of her children while driving under the influence on Christmas Eve.
Carlos Prieto is in the Salt Lake County Jail. In the past couple of hours we've learned that he's been in Utah at least a couple of years and that he may be in the country illegally.
Prieto was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion on vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, and driving without a license. Prosecutors are still screening the case, and formal charges are expected tomorrow morning.
Police arrested Prieto on Christmas Eve morning, when he ran a red light at the intersection of 5400 South and 700 East in Murray, and broadsided a car carrying the Ceran family. Cheryl Ceran, her son, Ian, and daughter, Julianna, died. Gary Ceran and two other children survived.
Jail documents reveal that when police arrived at the scene, Prieto smelled strongly of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes. Prieto admitted to police, he had five beers before getting behind the wheel.
A check of court records didn't bring up any previous arrests, but we learned that two years ago Prieto was cited for speeding and driving without a license. That case was resolved in Salt Lake County Justice Court, after he paid a fine.
A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement told me they have interviewed Prieto and believe he is a Mexican national and here illegally.
ICE has issued a hold on him, so he can be turned over to them once the criminal against him is resolved.
