Four dead, 27 hurt in rollover carrying up to 50 suspected immigrants

03:09 PM Mountain Standard Time on Sunday, April 27, 2008

azfamily.com / PCSO


Fatal freeway rollover south of Arizona City
azfamily.com

PHOTOS: Rollover scene
VIDEO: Deadly rollover
UNCUT: Investigator
RAW: Investigation

UPDATE from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office:

The vehicle, which was an older model Ford truck that rolled over at about 5:30 this morning in Arizona City, was carrying possibly 50 to 60 subjects.

When the rollover occurred, it is estimated that 20 to 30 people fled on foot in to the desert area and were never located. No arrests have been made at this point, but officers are looking for the driver who fled the scene.

We can't release the driver's info at this time. It is too early in the investigation to have names or nationalities, but it is strongly believed that this involved a load of undocumented aliens.

Again, 18 injured subjects were flown to area hospitals in Phoenix and Tucson and 9 were ground transported to Phoenix and Tucson hospitals. The four subjects confirmed deceased on scene were all male subjects. The investigation is ongoing, but it is believed that speed was the ultimate factor in this rollover and alcohol could have been a factor.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

ARIZONA CITY - As many as 50 suspected illegal immigrants were crammed aboard a standard-sized Ford pick-up truck involved in a serious rollover wreck.

It all happened at around 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning at the intersection of Sagittarius Street and Aries Drive just southwest of Arizona City between Tucson and Phoenix.

Pima County Sheriff’s deputies say the driver apparently failed to negotiate a turn at the intersection when the truck rolled, ejecting many of the passengers.

Four people are confirmed dead and 18 others were airlifted to hospitals in the Phoenix, Tucson and Casa Grande area with serious injuries. Deputies report another nine passengers were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Authorities report the driver of the pick-up truck fled the scene on foot and remains outstanding.

It is still unclear where the remaining passengers who were not injured are being held.

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