Man convicted in crash that kills 10 illegal immigrants

Allison Denny
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 26, 2007 02:15 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 26-ON.html


A jury has found a man guilty of a rollover accident that killed 10 undocumented immigrants, including a pregnant woman whose fetus failed to survive.

The federal jury found Adan Pineda-Doval, 21, guilty Thursday of 10 counts of transport of illegal aliens resulting in death, one count of transport of illegal aliens while placing lives in jeopardy and one count of re-entry into the U.S. following deportation.

The accident occurred in August 2006 near Yuma when Pineda-Doval, of Michoacán, Mexico, was transporting 20 undocumented immigrants to Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Attorney's District of Arizona office.


A Border Patrol agent patrolling a dirt road used to bypass the border checkpoint confronted Pineda-Doval, who failed to stop the 1995 Chevrolet Suburban.

Another agent used a tire-deflation device in an attempt to stop the vehicle when Pineda-Doval swerved, traveled off the roadway and swerved again, causing the vehicle to roll. Several people were ejected.

Pineda-Doval was arrested after witnesses identified him as the driver of the 1995 Chevrolet Suburban involved in the crash.

According to the U.S. Attorney's District of Arizona office, an expert who testified during the trial confirmed that the rollover was caused by Pineda-Doval swerving the vehicle.

Pineda-Doval's sentencing is set for Jan. 28.

A conviction for each count of transport of illegal aliens resulting in death carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The charge of the transport of illegal aliens while placing lives in jeopardy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The charge of re-entry following deportation carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol's Yuma Sector, along with the Yuma County Sheriff's Office and the FBI.