Juan Alvarado Aguilar Charged in Fatal DUI Crash That Killed Catawba Soccer Player Fletcher Harris and Girlfriend Skylar Provenza in North Carolina

An illegal immigrant is behind bars after allegedly driving drunk and causing a head-on crash that killed a North Carolina college soccer player and his girlfriend late Friday night, authorities said.

Juan Alvarado Aguilar, 37, is accused of driving while impaired when he crossed the centerline in a Chevy Silverado and slammed into an oncoming Honda Accord on Amity Hill Road in Cleveland, North Carolina, according to multiple local reports.

The violent collision sent the Honda off the roadway and ejected one passenger, authorities said. The driver of the Honda, Fletcher Mark Daniel Harris, 20, a junior at Catawba College, and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Statesville resident Skylar Nichole Provenza, were both pronounced dead at the scene, Queen City News reported.

Investigators said Harris and Provenza were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Aguilar, who was allegedly driving without a valid license, suffered only minor injuries, according to the Salisbury Post.

Aguilar was arrested Saturday after authorities reportedly discovered a Mexican passport, leading to an ICE detainer being placed against him. Court records show he has a pending 2020 DWI charge in Cabarrus County.

He has been charged with two counts of felony death by motor vehicle and driving while impaired and is currently being held at the Rowan County Detention Center on a $5 million bond. He is scheduled to return to court on March 2.

Harris was a member of Catawba College’s men’s soccer team and was double majoring in environmental sustainability and biology, WBTV reported. In a statement, Catawba College Vice President for Athletics Michelle Cadigan said the campus community was “heartbroken” by his death.

“This is an unimaginable loss for his family, friends, and our campus community,” Cadigan said. “Fletcher was an exceptional student, a dedicated athlete, and a true friend to so many. His impact extended far beyond the soccer field.”

Men’s soccer coach Alex Morais also paid tribute, saying Harris was “profoundly loved” and left a lasting impact on those around him.

Social media posts described Harris and Provenza as “soulmates,” with images showing the couple together in the days leading up to the crash. The two were traveling together in the Honda Accord when Aguilar allegedly crossed into their lane, authorities said.

The investigation into the fatal crash remains ongoing.