LITTLE ROCK — A driver who police say caused a wreck that killed a Faulkner County man Monday night has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and negligent homicide, prosecutors said Thursday.

Guadalupe Lopez, 32, was behind the wheel of a Ford Taurus that forced a Ford van driven by 37-year-old Gary Harp off of Interstate 40 shortly after 8 p.m. near Mayflower, Arkansas State Police said. Harp reportedly over-corrected, sending his vehicle toppling off the roadway and into a ditch. He was killed after being partially ejected.

Police, who had received reports of the Taurus driving erratically, tracked it to Lopez' residence in Conway within hours of the wreck. There, police spoke with Lopez and determined he had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, said Twentieth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden.

Lopez made no attempt to stop, Vaden said, and a search of his car also yielded a small amount of methamphetamine.

"(Harp) was just driving down the road, minding his own business, apparently a law-abiding citizen doing a lawful activity and he was killed," Vaden said. "He virtually got the death penalty from a situation that was not an accident. It was a needless situation to occur."

Investigators say Lopez, who was also driving without a license and without insurance, is an illegal immigrant. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has reportedly begun a deportation process on him.

"This is a tragic case and on behalf of my office I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family of the victim," Vaden said in a statement. "While I am pleased the deportation process is proceeding, it is important to note that the State of Arkansas has every intention of prosecuting and punishing Mr. Lopez before he leaves this country."

Lopez is being held in the Faulkner County Detention Center in lieu of a $50,000 bond.