DENVER -- The man accused of driving a vehicle filled with 14 illegal immigrants that crashed on Interstate 70, killing four people, appeared in court Tuesday.

Jose Francisco Franco-Rodriguez, 23, was advised of the charges against him in court and was assigned a federal public defender.

Franco-Rodriguez was allegedly driving a van eastbound on I-70 on Nov. 27, 2006, when he lost control and crashed, ejecting several passengers. Three men and a pregnant woman riding inside the van were killed in the crash and several others were injured.

Franco-Rodriguez fled the scene of the crash but was caught by police hours later.

He is charged with transporting unlawful aliens in the U.S. resulting in death, and with unlawful reentry of a previously deported alien.

Franco-Rodriguez was ordered to be deported from the U.S. on Oct. 23, 2005.

Franco-Rodriguez is being held without bond. His next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 2.

If convicted of transporting aliens illegally in the U.S. resulting in death, Franco-Rodriguez faces up to life in prison.