November 21, 2009

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104

Crash Suspect Interviewed

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23-year-old Alianiss Nunez Morales in this photo provided by the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.

By Drew Sandholm

Story Created: Feb 23, 2008 at 10:31 PM CST

Story Updated: Feb 23, 2008 at 10:34 PM CST

She calls herself 'Alianiss Nunez Morales,' but authorities say that's not her name and that she's in the country illegally.

Investigators say 'Morales' smashed a van into the side of a Lakeview school bus Tuesday night.

The van, which 'Morales' had been driving.

The accident sent 'Morales' to the hospital, which is where troopers made first contact with the woman. KSFY has obtained a transcript of that conversation and has included part of it here:

Trooper: Can you ask her if she has a Minnesota driver's license please?

Interpreter: No.

Trooper: Any driver's license?

Interpreter: No.

Trooper: Can you ask her what happened? Does she remember what happened?

Interpreter: Yes. She said she remembers.

Trooper: Okay. Can she tell us?

Interpreter: I was driving to the cabinet. At the beginning, she told me I was driving. She did her stop and then when she started moving and she started driving, seen a bus came in... and that's when the crash.

23-year-old 'Alianiss Nunez Morales.'

'Morales'' statement seems to conflict with what other witnesses told investigators, but Saturday Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Brian West told KSFY that the investigation continues.

At this time, 'Morales' remains in Lyon County jail awaiting her next court date.

Questions? Comments? News tips?
Contact Drew Sandholm directly by phone at (605) 373-7372 or by e-mail.

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Sunday, Feb 24 at 12:23 AM Anonymous wrote ...

i am sorry but she deserves what she gets for the oain she has caused the families of the 4 children that are no longer with us! i hope justice prevails in this case. illegal or not!

Sunday, Feb 24 at 3:26 AM INFIDEL wrote ...

A 14 year old boy was killed in Mich. this week too. Same deal - illegal alien previously arrested, but not deported. Please join the fight for our country! betterimmigration.com NumbersUSA.com

Sunday, Feb 24 at 6:17 AM from far away wrote ...

Lets gets the facts, go to court and let justice be served!!

Sunday, Feb 24 at 9:40 AM Danielle R. south dakota wrote ...

I am very sorry to those families.But it seems everyone is so focused on her "dL"to me i think this is another stab at immigrants,everyone involved was "white except her,now it is gonna be a free for all,and that is not fair to her or those families wanting justice because she should be tried for the crime not 4 being illegal and the crime,being illegal is another story and crime.but it seems everyone is focused on that,being illegal didn't kill those kids.hopefully the bus drvr will b looked at

Sunday, Feb 24 at 10:10 AM Lee wrote ...

If are border agents get 10 yrs in prison for just wonding a mexican drug smugler, this woman should get at least 10 yrs for each life lost here. Im very dissapointed in our congress, that refuses to deal with this problem. They find the money for pork barrel spending but wont fund the fence? Wake up you idiots in congress!

Sunday, Feb 24 at 10:32 AM Bill Nielson wrote ...

This is News....Give me a break

Sunday, Feb 24 at 12:30 PM douglas d lund wrote ...

bill janklow got by with a slap on the wrist so why won,t she

Sunday, Feb 24 at 1:49 PM Anonymous wrote ...

who ever posted above me is so dumb. enough said.

Sunday, Feb 24 at 4:29 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I am sorry but she deserves to spend time in jail in the US. Then after her time is up then deport her. She killed 4 kids and injured many more. I feel sorry for those familys who lost their loved ones. She sounds like she has no remorse for them. I hope justice prevails in this case.

Sunday, Feb 24 at 5:41 PM bj in Soo Foo wrote ...

Let me see if I got this straight...On top of being in this country illegally-which makes her a felon; she's lying about how she ran the stop sign and hit the bus, KILLING FOUR INNOCENT CHILDREN!! It seems to me that she ought to be facing MURDER charges, not vehicular homicide. She's a felon, she killed four children. That sounds like it ought to be a murder charge. Too bad Minnesota doesn't have the death penalty. This one is a prime candidate for it.

Sunday, Feb 24 at 5:44 PM Donna Palmlund wrote ...

It's a horrible thing that has happened, and yes, she needs to be punished, but prominent US citizens have also run stop signs and killed people, and gotten their lawyer license back.

Sunday, Feb 24 at 8:33 PM Anonymous wrote ...

This woman has obviously made the most horrible mistake of her life. Yes 4 children have been killed and others injured, she deserves some kind of punishment, but lets not forget a public official that ran a stop sign and served only 6 months for a persons death. Of course that individual was white, male and worked for the goverment. Hadn't he also had something to drink that day?

Sunday, Feb 24 at 8:36 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Illegal or not she deserves everything she gets!!!! She had no business driving and then killing four babies besides! She deserves life if you ask me!

Sunday, Feb 24 at 9:39 PM Anonymous wrote ...

They should should give her a trial and if found guilty of ANYTHING, especially vehicular homicide, they should just sent her back to Mexico or Guatamala or wherever. Any illegal alian that breaks a law should be immedicately deported. We pay for their hospital bills, social services, schooling (in Spanish yet), we accomodate their language in most businesses. The taxpayers should not have to pay for keeping ANY illegals in jail.

Sunday, Feb 24 at 10:07 PM Mike D. Montevideo, MN wrote ...

The bottom line id that if 'Morales' or whatever her real name is was not here illegally, the 4 children would still be alive.

Sunday, Feb 24 at 10:38 PM bigbill port angeles, WA. wrote ...

Has anyone checked to be sure that she is NOT one of the illegal aliens who got busted at the Albert Lea?Minnesota meat packing plant last year? That possibly might lead to her real name or someone knowing more than we do now? If she doesn't work then she is probably a illegal drug(s) runner for Mexican drug kingpins? It sounds like its time to bring the federal government's roving border patrol crew to Minn. like they did in Forks, Washington..bbt

Sunday, Feb 24 at 10:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Danielle R. thinks the bus drive should be looked at??? Are you serious? because driving down a highway and getting T-boned really points to the Bus driver. What an idiot. I have seen where the incedent occured and there is only one way the accident could have happened the way it did, and that is that she caused that accident 110%. She should be charged for homicide, being here illegally, and anything else they can think up. Innocent kids dying from a stupid illegal alien. Sad day.

Sunday, Feb 24 at 11:19 PM right at home wrote ...

It should make no difference what color or race you are,legal or not legal,right is right, wrong is wrong. Let her be tried by her peers with all facts presented for this tragedy,just like anyone else would be. Let her have her day in court. And as far as the bus driver being looked at. He should be commended for his quick action for the safety of those very frightened children and let us not forget the firemen,ambulance crews and all who stopped to help get the kids to safety. May God Bless

Monday, Feb 25 at 12:19 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I come from a family with many cultures and don't think of myself as races, but I don't think illegal alians should be here if they commit crimes. She didn't just commit one crime, but several. She is here illigaly, driving without a licence, ran a stop signs, killed 4 people, lied to police. Sorry, but this woman doesn't sound like she has any respect for our country or people and shouldn't be allowed to live off us.

Monday, Feb 25 at 1:23 AM A.B. from S.D. wrote ...

There are laws we all are expected to serve, and we should all enforce these laws for everyone, even illegal citizens, thriveing on our government, health care and social service. We give them more than any other country will thats why they come here, if the government would enforce stricter laws for them they wouldnt feed on us. She should be convicted as vehicle homicide, buses should all have seatbelts as we all have to wear them, its the law. At what cost? How many children must die, before.

Monday, Feb 25 at 3:31 AM Augusto Perez wrote ...

It is very simple. If our elected officials enforced all immigration laws with the same zeal they pursue drug laws, this woman would not have been on that road and the accident would have never happened. The parents of the injured and deceased should sue the city, county, state and federal government for their gross negligence in neglecting their duty of protecting our country from any and all invaders.

Monday, Feb 25 at 8:13 AM Jake Patterson wrote ...

When can we get some real news!

Monday, Feb 25 at 9:58 AM levotb wrote ...

She's a liar and an illegal and she needs to be tried and convicted for manslaughter of 4 innocent American children. The D.A. needs to throw the book at her, make her an example of what illegals don't want to see--the taking of innovent American life!

Monday, Feb 25 at 10:56 AM Jimi wrote ...

Let me help out the authorities, She's an illegal alien. She entered the country illegally. She's driving ilegally. She needs to be prosecuted and serve her time and then get deported. Now, do your job.

Monday, Feb 25 at 11:07 AM American Me wrote ...

More innocent Americans dead (and children mind you) at the hands of another arrogant illegal alien. This and thousands of other deaths wouldn`t be happening, if our useless sell-out governments, secured our border, and enforced our CURRENT immigration laws, instead of rolling out the red carpet for illegals, so the corporate slaves in government, can please their corporate masters. When will America wake up and demand this nonsense be stopped!

Monday, Feb 25 at 11:26 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Tell her translator to tell her to cut the crap and tell everyone who she really is and he lumps for KILLING four childred.

Monday, Feb 25 at 11:33 AM Janice wrote ...

Business as usual. No enforcement of illegal aliens as a result innocent American lives taken!

Monday, Feb 25 at 12:17 PM Robin wrote ...

This is an OUTRAGE - we the people want our borders secured. We have four dead American children because this lawbreaker chose to drive illegally and live in the U.S. illegally!!! SECURE THE BORDER SAVE OUR CHILDREN

Monday, Feb 25 at 5:45 PM Bobby wrote ...

Believe it or not I feel for all parties involved. No doubt,Morales or whatever her name is, did not want to kill people. Having said that, Americans are largely to blame because they will not pour some coffee into themselves, wake -up and do whatever it takes to FORCE their politicians to put oa stop to illegal immigration. This is the kind of stuff that happens when people drive illegally, when they have never had lessons on safety and when they are constantly thinking they might get caught.

Monday, Feb 25 at 9:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

The Problem here is that the news is making a huge deal out this. The bus accident is sad, and tragic, and I can not even image what the familys are going though. It must be tough. I am sick of the news giving it so much coverage. Its over with. Why does the news keep trying to dig stuff up about it. IS this the most important thing that is happening in sioux falls?

Tuesday, Feb 26 at 2:49 AM Hmmm wrote ...

I think her name is Olga la Diablo - with her icy gaze, hairclips that look like horns and everything evil looking. What does she mean by "driving to the cabinet"? To the store???

Tuesday, Feb 26 at 9:48 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Who owns the vehicle? If this woman has never had a drivers license then who allowed her to drive the van? Should that person also hold some accountability?

Tuesday, Feb 26 at 11:44 AM patty wrote ...

i'm not sure what to say except my heartfelt sympathy to all involved and who all helped. I cant help but wonder how i would really feel if i lost someone or knew the responsible party, whether friend or family. it is easy for us to judge when we don't know the entire story and facts. when my nephew was killed on the farm when he was 4 yrs. old, lots of rumors and speculation and they didnt even come close to the truth. should we judge?

Tuesday, Feb 26 at 3:06 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Look at faces of those four children, how sad to have this woman alive insead of them. Enough said.

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