Thread: AZ: 3 illegal entrants hurt in wreck that came after chase

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/167669

3 illegal entrants hurt in wreck that came after chase near Oracle
By Alexis Huicochea
ARizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.05.2007

Three illegal entrants were injured Friday night when they fled from a state Department of Public Safety officer who was trying to pull them over for speeding, an official said Saturday.
The short pursuit, which began at 8:49 near Oracle, north of Tucson, ended when a pickup truck carrying 10 illegal immigrants plummeted into a canyon, said Detective Tim Mason, a DPS spokesman.
The chase started when an officer who was northbound on Arizona 77 saw the speeding pickup, Mason said. The officer turned on his lights and siren, and the pickup accelerated.
The officer pursued the truck for less than a mile when the vehicle went off the road and into a canyon, falling about 40 feet, Mason said.
The pursuing officer and another from a backup unit, which arrived as the truck went off the road, immediately climbed down into the canyon, he said.
"They saw the vehicle go down, and the first thing they do is go into police mode, with their first concern being to make sure that everyone is OK and that everyone gets the medical attention they need," Mason said.
When the officers reached the truck, they found three illegal entrants, and all were flown to University Medical Center, he said.
As the officers waited for the helicopters to arrive, they learned that at least seven other illegal entrants had been in the truck and had fled, Mason said.
DPS and U.S. Border Patrol personnel began a search for the remaining people, but they were unsuccessful, he said.
On Saturday morning, the three illegal entrants were turned over to the Border Patrol.
Mason would not say where the entrants were from or provide their gender or ages, citing the ongoing investigation.
The DPS has begun an internal investigation, which is standard procedure any time an officer is involved in a pursuit that results in a collision with injuries, Mason said.

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Many comments are being left after this story too.

more tax money down the drain....between the airlifts and hospial bills
investagation costs, courts and deportation you could send several
American Kids to college. Getting sick of the waste.