— A Cary man, originally from Nigeria, was recently released from prison after serving 3.5 years in connection to a fatal 2013 hit-and-run crash.

Natalie Chidlaw and Meghan Clark, both 18, were crossing Hillsborough Street near Dixie Trail on June 15, 2013, when Adetoya Adekanmbi hit them.

Authorities said the girls were crossing against the light but Adekanmbi was speeding down the street – accident reconstruction experts estimated the speed of his Volkswagen sedan at 46 to 51 mph – and didn't stop after hitting the teens in the crosswalk.

Chidlaw died in the crash.

Adekanmbi was released from prison on Friday. Chidlaw's mother, Jamie Brauer, said she thought Adekanmbi was going to be deported, but that did not happen.

"I was promised he was going to be deported when he finished his sentence," she said.

But Adekanmbi's attorney says immigration officials have already cleared his client to stay in the country. He has a legal permanent resident visa.

"They already have looked at his case and determined that these were, under the circumstances, not deportable offenses," said Bill Young, Adekanmbi's attorney.

Brauer is not pleased with that decision.

"It makes me sick," she said. "He's a repeat offender. He obviously doesn't care about our laws."

Adekanmbi was previously convicted of drunk driving in 2010, but Adekanmbi's attorney says his client does care deeply about the tragedy he caused.

"He is a father himself, and he desires to express his deepest sympathy to Natalie's family and to Meghan," Young said.

"I don't feel like justice has been served where my daughter is concerned," Brauer said.

In a statement, Young said Adekanmbi and his entire family regret and grieve the loss of the young women.

"They hope for healing and seek to promote love and understanding in the midst of this tragedy. Adetoye is a father himself and can not fathom the pain and the loss felt here. He expresses his deepest personal sympathy to Natalie's family and to Meghan. Regarding the immigration concerns expressed, Adetoye was and remains legally in this country. He is a permanent legal resident with a Masters Degree in Business administration and no history of violence. Having finished serving a long prison sentence for his involvement in this tragic accident, he continues to pray for hope and healing for Natalie's family and for Meghan," the statement said.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said her assistant district attorneys did not promise Chidlaw's family that the driver would be deported, only that it was a possibility. Federal immigration officers make deportation decisions, not local authorities.

Adekanmni pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of felony hit-and-run in the 2013 crash.