International student charged, bail raised to $2M in near-fatal crash

SEATTLE — A student from China who came to Seattle to go to school has been charged in a crash that injured a car full of teens and left a woman on life support.

Court documents said Yichun Xu may have been in the U.S. illegally and was driving without a license when he crashed his Mercedes into another car after running a stop sign in Des Moines on Saturday.

Witnesses said he was going 70 mph in a 30 mph zone.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter David Ham, who obtained the car’s license plate number, looked online and found an ad listing the matching 2008 Mercedes C-350 Sport for sale for $31,000.

"It's not the type of car that a 19-year-old without any driver's license should have any business behind the wheel of,” said attorney David Nold.

Nold is the attorney for Brenda Gomez, the 25-year-old woman who is on life support after she was injured in the crash with Xu.

Police said Gomez was driving a car full of teens to a Quinceanera 15th birthday party on Saturday when Xu ran a stop sign and slammed Gomez’ car against a rock wall.

Prosecutors charged Xu with four counts of vehicular assault and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Xu’s bail was initially set at $500,000 but was raised to $2 million Thursday because he is considered a flight risk.

Prosecutors want to make sure the 19-year-old doesn't flee to China.

"It's entirely possible if the defendant obtains a bond or bail that's achievable through a bond or bail bondsman that we'll never see him again,” said Nold.

Ham asked the jail to pass a note to Xu asking him to call Ham collect, but Ham has not heard back.

Xu’s arraignment is set for November 29.

KIRO