BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

The case of an illegal immigrant charged in a Sept. 6 wreck that killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child has been continued until December.

Orlando A. Cruz did not appear in at a hearing in Culpeper General District Court on Wednesday, but his court-appointed attorney, Paul Walla, sought and was granted a continuance until Dec. 12.

Walla told the court that he needed more time to prepare his case before a preliminary hearing.

Cruz, 36, is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count each of driving under the influence and driving without a license.

He is accused of crossing the center line and hitting 20-year-old Zulma Alvarez's Ford Windstar van head-on on the Eggbornsville Road about two-tenths of a mile west of State Route 229.

Alvarez was nine months pregnant at the time.

Cruz, who had twice before the accident been reported to the immigration service as being in the country illegally, remains in jail without bond.

Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com