New immigration charge filed against Guatemalan man accused over death of US football player Edwin Jackson

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson and Uber driver Jeffrey Monroe were killed as they stood by the side of the road

Manuel Orrego-Savala was twice deported from the country (Getty)

Federal authorities have filed a new immigration charge against a Guatemalan man twice deported from the US, who has now been accused over the alleged drink-driving death of a professional American Football player.

US Attorney Josh Minkler announced the charge as 37-year-old Manuel Orrego-Savala was due to appear in court in connection with the deaths of Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson and another man, Uber driver Jeffrey Monroe.

They were killed on Sunday morning when they were allegedly struck by Mr Orrego-Savala’s car on a highway in Indiana.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump weighed in on the issue, using the fatal accident to attack Democrats and accuse them of failing to support his immigration policies.

“So disgraceful that a person illegally in our country killed @Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson,” he said.

“This is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must get the Dems to get tough on the Border, and with illegal immigration, FAST!”

The Associated Press said Mr Orrego-Savala was deported in 2007 and 2009, and was again living illegally in the US at the time of the crash, according to investigators.

He was charged in Tuesday's federal criminal complaint with illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. He faces up to 10 years in prison on the immigration charge, which the US attorney's office said would be handled after any state charges are resolved.

A spokesman for Mr Jackson’s family has said his relatives are devastated and planned no response to Trump's tweets about the crash and the suspect’s immigration status, the AP said.

“The family is in shock, as you can imagine. This obviously happened so unexpectedly,” Atlanta attorney Daniel Meachum said.

Investigators said they believe Mr Orrego-Savala was intoxicated at the time of the Indiana crash.

The suspect appeared on Tuesday before a judge who advised him of his rights. Indianapolis television station WRTV reported that Mr Orrego-Savala told the judge through an interpreter: “I wasn't driving the car. I don’t know why I am here.”