On July 20, 2025, tragedy struck a Wisconsin highway when 18-year-old Hallie Helgeson and 19-year-old Brady Heiling were hit by a wrong-way driver who was allegedly intoxicated. The driver, Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony vehicular homicide and impaired driving under Wisconsin law.
Helgeson died at the scene of the crash. Heiling, who was critically injured, tragically passed away five days later from his wounds.
Martinez-Avila, who entered the United States illegally, is now the subject of an ICE arrest detainer as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seeks to initiate removal proceedings. However, because the crash occurred in Dane County, a self-declared sanctuary jurisdiction, ICE warns there’s no guarantee local authorities will comply with the detainer request.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the fatal crash is a stark example of what happens when sanctuary policies override public safety concerns. Martinez-Avila was driving the wrong way while intoxicated, resulting in a collision that ended two young lives filled with promise.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a pointed statement:
“Hallie and Brady would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila... this sanctuary jurisdiction has a history of not honoring ICE arrest detainers, often leading to the release of murderers and other heinous criminals.”
The incident has reignited debate over the consequences of sanctuary city policies, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement—even in cases involving serious criminal charges.
While ICE focuses on criminal and immigration enforcement, the families of Helgeson and Heiling may also pursue civil justice through wrongful death claims.
At Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, a division of The Haggard Law Firm, we understand how catastrophic a DUI-related fatality can be for the surviving family members. Regardless of the perpetrator’s immigration status, victims’ families are often eligible to seek compensation for:
Medical and funeral expenses
Loss of companionship and emotional suffering
Lost future earnings
Punitive damages for reckless conduct
Our firm aggressively pursues justice in drunk driving, wrongful death, and violent crime cases nationwide, and we are experienced in holding negligent and reckless individuals civilly accountable, even when criminal proceedings are complicated by immigration or sanctuary policies.
This case represents more than a tragic loss. It reflects the critical need for policy reforms that prioritize community safety and ensure victims' families are not left with unanswered questions or a lack of justice.
The Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office encourages families affected by such tragedies to reach out for support by calling 1-855-488-6423. While federal authorities pursue deportation, the civil justice system remains a powerful path for families seeking accountability, compensation, and closure.
If you or someone you love has been impacted by a drunk driving crash, particularly involving an offender who may face deportation, it’s critical to act swiftly. The civil statute of limitations in wrongful death cases varies by state and can be shorter than expected.
Michael Haggard, Esq., and the attorneys at Haggard Crime Victim Attorney are ready to stand by your side and pursue full compensation on your behalf. We offer free consultations and represent clients on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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