NEW RINGGOLD — A hit-and-run driver who caused an accident in East Brunswick Township in February turned out to be someone who entered the country illegally from Mexico, state police at Frackville said Sunday.
On Friday, Daniel Napoles Herrera, 38, who resides in Reading, Berks County, was charged with numerous traffic violations, including accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle, driving without a license, failing to observe limitations with overtaking on the left, failing to observe no-passing zones, careless driving and failing to render aid, police said in a public information release.
Herrera was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $10,000 straight bail, police said. A detainer was also placed on Herrera by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department, and he is awaiting possible extradition back to Oregon and possible deportation back to Mexico, police said.
Herrera’s problems in Schuylkill County began with the incident that occurred 4 p.m. Feb. 26 on Clamtown Road, state Route 443, about a half mile east of New Ringgold, police said.
Herrera was driving a 1994 Honda Accord west when he tried to pass a westbound 2013 Dodge Dart driven by Denice M. Frederick, 46, of New Ringgold, police said.
Herrera attempted to pass on a double yellow line around a left curve. When he attempted to move back into the right lane, he cut the pass too short and the right side of his Honda collided with the left front of the Dart, police said.
When both vehicles entered New Ringgold, Herrera tried to flee the scene by turning left and heading to the south end of the borough and into a public park. Frederick followed him and, at one point, was able to take a photograph of his registration plate with her cellphone, police said. However, Herrera managed to flee the scene, police said.
At 6:43 a.m. Friday, police observed Herrera traveling east on Route 443 outside New Ringgold. Police initiated a traffic stop in the area of Schuylkill Road near Hecla. The description Frederick provided of the vehicle that struck her on Feb. 26 matched the vehicle Herrera was driving Friday, and Herrera admitted being the driver in the Feb. 26 incident, police said.
Herrera was taken back to the Frackville barracks and fingerprinted. Using those fingerprints, police discovered Herrera was wanted in Oregon and that he is a citizen of Mexico who illegally entered the United States, police said.