An illegal alien has been charged in a fatal drunk driving crash that killed 18-year-old Hallie Helgeson and seriously injured her boyfriend, 19-year-old Brady Heiling, in Dane County, Wisconsin.
The suspect, 30-year-old Noelia A. Martinez, was allegedly intoxicated when she collided with the couple’s vehicle on July 20. Martinez, who has a prior conviction for drunk driving and multiple traffic violations, now faces a list of charges including second-degree homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, operating with a prohibited blood alcohol concentration, and driving on a revoked license.
Authorities say Martinez crashed her Chevy Suburban into the teens’ Volkswagen Tiguan. When first responders arrived, Helgeson was unresponsive and was later pronounced dead. Heiling suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a local hospital.
Martinez’s blood alcohol level measured 0.208%—more than twice the legal limit. Police also discovered open beer cans in her vehicle and detected a strong odor of alcohol. Though she initially denied drinking, she later admitted to consuming at least two beers.
Martinez was previously convicted of drunk driving in November 2020 and was supposed to be using a court-mandated ignition interlock device. Her license had been revoked, yet she was behind the wheel once again at the time of the crash.
Despite her prior offenses, Martinez had not been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It remains unclear why she was not turned over to federal immigration authorities following her earlier conviction.
Martinez is being held on a $250,000 bond. Helgeson’s death has shocked the community, with tributes pouring in for the recent high school graduate who had been in a relationship with Heiling for three years.
