Authorities have confirmed the overseas arrest of Erwin Zuniga, a man who allegedly killed three passengers in a high-speed, alcohol-fueled car crash in Miami before being accidentally deported to Honduras last year. Zuniga, now 28, was taken into custody in Spain, where U.S. officials are working to have him extradited back to Florida to face multiple homicide charges.
The fatal crash occurred in 2022 on West Flagler Street in Miami. Police allege that Zuniga was driving more than 126 mph in a 40 mph zone when he lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a gas station sign. The violent impact killed three passengers in his car: 19-year-old Paola Sabillon, her boyfriend Jason Meza, and his cousin Giselle Reyes. A fourth passenger was critically injured but survived.
Toxicology reports showed Zuniga’s blood alcohol level was 0.123—well over the legal limit—and that he also had THC in his system. Witnesses told investigators that Zuniga had been drinking heavily that night, reportedly downing five or six shots of whiskey before getting behind the wheel.
Following the crash, Zuniga was arrested and charged with three counts of DUI manslaughter and three counts of reckless vehicular homicide. Because he was unlawfully present in the United States, he was placed on house arrest while awaiting trial. However, in September 2023, a major administrative blunder led to his accidental deportation.
According to NBC affiliate WTVJ, Miami-Dade jail officials mistakenly transferred Zuniga into the custody of federal immigration authorities, who deported him to Honduras. The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department later admitted responsibility for the error, stating that several officers would be disciplined. Still, the exact details of how the mistake happened have never been publicly released.
The deportation outraged the victims’ families, who expressed disbelief that a man facing such serious charges was able to leave the country. Miriam Castillo, the sister of victim Paola Sabillon, told local media: “Very mad. If we have to walk outside the courthouse, and if we have to make noise, we will make noise, because he has to come back. He has to come back, and he has to pay for what he did.”
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Laura Shearon Cruz also voiced frustration during a court hearing, noting: “We only found out when we had no idea where the defendant was, before we started the case for trial. These are definitely heinous crimes.”
Nearly a year after the deportation, Spanish authorities located Zuniga and placed him under arrest. U.S. officials are now coordinating with international partners to secure his extradition to Miami-Dade County. Once returned, he will face the original charges related to the crash.
For the families of the victims, Zuniga’s arrest represents a long-awaited step toward justice. But until he is back in a Miami courtroom, many remain wary after the bureaucratic mishandling that allowed him to escape accountability in the first place.
