LOS ANGELES, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — All 13 people killed when a packed vehicle collided with a truck in California are believed to have entered the US illegally through a nearby breach in the Mexico border fence, US authorities said.
A 10-foot gap in the frontier barrier was found around an hour before
officials learned of Tuesday morning’s deadly crash, which took place around 30 miles from the border rift.
Initial investigations “indicate a potential nexus to the aforementioned
breach in the border wall,” said El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory
Bovino in a statement.
Surveillance footage showed two vehicles collecting border crossers from
the site of the breach early Tuesday.
As well as the fatal crash, a second car was found broken down and in
flames by border patrol agents, who located another 19 individuals hiding in the brush nearby who had entered the US through the fence.
Neither car was being pursued by law enforcement when the incident
occurred, the US Customs and Border Protection statement said.
Tuesday’s accident occurred when an SUV carrying more than two dozen
people — including minors — and a semi-truck crashed near El Centro,
California.
At least 10 of the deceased victims were Mexican, according to the Mexican
government.
A total of 25 occupants — including a driver who was later among the dead
— were traveling in the SUV at the time of the crash, the statement said.
The Ford Expedition SUV would have a legal capacity of about eight people,
according to the carmaker’s website.
“Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for
human life,” said Bovino.
“Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy; tragedies our
Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar
with.”
The accident occurred when the SUV entered an intersection in front of the
semi-truck, officials earlier said, although it was not known whether the
smaller vehicle had stopped at the stop sign. — NNN-AGENCIES
