Group of Immigrants Rescued Near Desert Center

Posted: July 18, 2009 10:18 PM CDT

Updated: July 19, 2009 01:31 AM CDT



NEAR DESERT CENTER - Nine people, including at least six illegal immigrants, who spent three days in the blistering Riverside County desert heat with little or no water after being abandoned by a smuggler were rescued today, authorities said.

It was about 113 degrees in the low desert when the group was found about 1:45 p.m about 30 miles east of Indio near Red Cloud Mine Road.

Authorities learned about the group about 45 minutes earlier, when someone called 911 and said a "coyote" had dropped him and his group off somewhere near Interstate 10, and that they had been in the desert with little water for three days, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Border Patrol agents from Indio helped rescue six people who appeared to be illegal immigrants, said Supervising Agent Adin Corona of the Border Patrol in El Centro. They were in Border Patrol custody.

Three others, who were dehydrated, were airlifted to hospitals, according to Cal Fire.

The citizen status of the three people who were airlifted had not been confirmed by the Border Patrol, Corona said.

At least one airplane was involved in the search, another CHP dispatcher said. After the group was spotted, two Cal Fire helicopters were requested, and at least one ambulance was sent to the area, according to the CHP.

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S= ... =menu191_2