Former Cop Mom Condemns Hit-and-Run Policies Allowing Illegal Alien to Allegedly Strike Her Son: ‘A Lot of Problems’
Mother calls for justice after son's birthday hit-and-run in Nashville allegedly involving undocumented immigrant with warrants.
A mother is making a heartfelt plea for the man accused of nearly killing her son in a hit-and-run crash to take responsibility, as the search for the suspect intensifies in Nashville. Sheena Carach, a former police officer, described the pain and anger she has endured since her son Zach was struck by a car on his 21st birthday during what was supposed to be a celebratory family trip to Tennessee.
“It’s about right and wrong. And if you hit someone, you stop. I mean, that’s just what you do. It’s inhumane not to stop,” Carach said, reflecting on the moment that changed her family’s life forever. After a day exploring Nashville, Zach Carach was crossing a street when a speeding vehicle hit him, sending him to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver fled the scene, igniting an ongoing manhunt and raising difficult questions about the suspect’s presence in the country and the systems that enabled him to remain at large.
Nashville police identified the suspect as Tony Lopez-Infante, 32, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who reportedly entered the United States in August 2023 and has a final order of removal. Authorities say Lopez-Infante is also wanted for multiple other offenses, including a probation violation related to a prior theft arrest in Williamson County. The car believed to be involved—a Mitsubishi Mirage—was found with front-end damage at a rental business the day after the crash.
The case has intensified debate over border security and law enforcement, with federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security now assisting in efforts to apprehend Lopez-Infante. Officials have pointed to policy decisions and screening procedures that allowed the suspect to enter and remain in the U.S., noting that he was able to rent a car, allegedly without a valid driver’s license or insurance, by paying cash weekly.
Carach, whose investigation into the conditions surrounding her son’s accident revealed significant inconsistencies in rental requirements, expressed deep frustration. “He rented a car in February of this year that he had until he hit my son with no driver’s license, with no insurance, without a major credit card on file... I wouldn't be able to walk into a business and do that,” she said. “There’s a lot of problems with that.”
The emotional toll has been immense for the Carach family. Zach, still hospitalized, faces months in a wheelchair and uncertainty about his long-term recovery. For his mother, the lack of remorse shown by the at-large suspect adds to their agony. “You know what you did, and you don’t care at all? … He has no remorse in my eyes. He’s a monster,” she said.
The situation has sparked criticism of Nashville’s city leadership and broader immigration policies, with lawmakers and residents voicing concerns about public safety. Some lawmakers have specifically condemned local policies that they say make it easier for individuals like Lopez-Infante to stay in the community under the radar. Mayor Freddie O’Connell has declined to comment on the matter, even as pressure mounts for stronger cooperation with federal authorities.
As federal and local partners continue their search for Lopez-Infante, Sheena Carach holds out hope that the increased public attention will help bring the suspect to justice. “For us, this has just been an ongoing nightmare. To know that this guy … is out there walking around free and then every single day we’re sitting by our son’s hospital bed,” she said. With the release of the suspect’s face to the public, she hopes someone will step forward with information, ending her family’s ordeal and offering accountability for what happened that day in Nashville.
