RALEIGH, N.C. — A deadly car accident in Apex has caught the eye of immigration officials. One of the drivers was supposed to leave the country last year after his roomate was investigated for possible links to terrorism.

Michael Stowe, 31, was killed Monday when his Honda Accord was hit head-on by a truck. The accident happened on Highway 55 near Old Jenks Road in Apex. Chikele Gideon, the truck driver, is charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. He was working for Stock Building Supply at the time of the acccident.

Gideon is well-known to immigration officials. In April 2002, he was arrested on charges for overstaying his visa. At the time, Gideon was living in Apex with Issaya Nombo, a pilot who was believed to have been linked to al-Qaida through some paperwork found in Afghanistan.

Nombo was eventually deported. Immigration officials said Gideon was supposed to leave the country, but did not.

In July 2003, an immigration judge in Atlanta ordered Gideon to leave the country within 90 days. Gideon appealed the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Falls Church, Va. That case is still pending.

After being told of Monday's accident, local immigration officials have filed a detainer on Gideon with the Wake County Jail, raising his bond from $30,000 to $55,000.