Guatemalan man dies in fiery crash fleeing ICE traffic stop in Michigan
Sep 23, 2026·Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Country of origin: Guatemala

Mario David Coronado Juarez, a 36-year-old Guatemalan construction worker from Tuichilupe village in Comitancillo, San Marcos, died Sunday, Sept. 20, when his vehicle struck a tree and burst into flames in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while fleeing an attempted ICE traffic stop. He had worked in the U.S. for six to seven years to support his wife, two daughters and a son, and was building a house for his family. DHS said ICE officers had been trying to stop him to confirm his identity, mistaking him for a different Guatemalan man they were seeking, and that officers discontinued the pursuit and tried to render aid after the crash. Community members, including volunteer Karla Barberi of Cosecha Grand Rapids, described him as "a hard-working man for the working class" and "an honest man" who "was not a criminal." Grand Rapids Police Chief Joseph Trigg requested that Michigan State Police investigate, citing limited cooperation from federal agencies, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered an independent review. Rep. Hillary Scholten sent a letter to ICE demanding a transparent investigation, and the Guatemalan Consulate is coordinating repatriation of his remains while a GoFundMe and community vigil were organized to help his family, who could not initially afford the trip to begin repatriation proceedings.
Sources
- Democrats demand answers after man dies in car crash during ICE traffic stop in Michigan
The Guardian·Sep 24, 2026·archived copy
- Guatemalan man dies in crash during attempted ICE traffic stop
NBC News·Sep 24, 2026
- Man dead in crash after fleeing from ICE in Michigan, police say
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The Guardian·Sep 28, 2026
- Immigrant community reels after construction worker’s fatal crash fleeing ICE agents
mlive.com·Sep 23, 2026
- Community Demands Answers After Immigrant Dies Fleeing ICE
- Man Killed In Fiery Crash In Grand Rapids While Fleeing ICE
newmediadetroit.com·Sep 23, 2026
- Guatemalan construction worker dies in crash after fleeing ICE agents in Grand Rapids
tldrdailynews.com·Sep 23, 2026
- Guatemalan man dies in crash during attempted ICE traffic stop - JattVibe Com News Music Your Total one stop for All
jattvibe.com·Sep 23, 2026
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