A North Carolina community is grieving after a tragic crash killed a college soccer player and his girlfriend, while the man accused of causing the wreck now faces serious felony charges and an immigration detainer.

Authorities say 37-year-old Juan Alvarado Aguilar was driving in Rowan County, NC, on January 16th when he allegedly crossed the center line and hit another vehicle head-on. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that Aguilar refused medical treatment at the scene and was transported for a blood draw before being arrested.

Jail records show Aguilar is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center on charges that include two counts of felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired. His bond has been set at more than $5 million. The Salisbury Post reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement later issued a detainer and administrative warrant for Aguilar following his arrest.

The victims were identified as 20-year-old Fletcher Mark Daniel Harris and 19-year-old Skylar Nichole Provenza. Harris, who was driving, was a student-athlete at Catawba College and a member of the men’s soccer team. Both he and Provenza were pronounced dead at the scene.

Harris was deeply involved in campus life and academics at Catawba. According to the college, he was a double major in environmental and sustainability and biology, and had been part of the soccer program for three seasons. He was also a standout student, making both the presidential honor roll and dean’s list.

The school and its athletic community expressed heartbreak over the sudden loss.

“Our hearts are broken,” head men’s soccer coach Alex Morais said in a statement. “Fletcher was profoundly loved and will be missed by everyone in our program and community.”

Catawba College vice president for athletics Michelle Caddigan also called the loss devastating, saying, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Fletcher Harris. This is an unimaginable loss for our campus community. Fletcher was an exceptional student and dedicated athlete whose impact extended far beyond the soccer field.”

Tributes for both Harris and Provenza have poured in online from family, friends, and fellow athletes. One family member remembered Harris as “one of the best human beings” they had ever known, while Provenza was described as a “beautiful soul.” The same relative said the couple had “the best hearts” and asked the public to keep both families in their prayers.

Leaders in the soccer community also honored Harris’s life and character. One co-founder of Hickory FC said Harris taught others “how to be good teammates” and how to make a positive impact, adding that his legacy would “live on.”

What was supposed to be a normal Friday night drive has now become a moment of immense grief for two families, a college campus, and a broader community that admired both young people. Loved ones say they are holding onto memories of two bright, generous students whose lives ended far too soon.