Authorities to clear Rio Grande of sunken vehicles

09:29 AM CDT on Monday, July 20, 2009



MISSION, Texas -- Authorities are targeting the dozens of pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and other cars submerged under the Rio Grande River.

The Texas Department of Public Safety recently deployed a dive team to comb the riverbed along the Texas-Mexico border. Officials tell The Monitor newspaper that there's more than 30 such vehicles in a 10-mile stretch between Penitas and Mission, some decades old.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Border Patrol, Mission Police and the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office have increased patrols along southernmost roads. They hope to deter the smuggling attempts that may end with drug traffickers drumping their loads and vehicles in the water.

Submerged vehicles pose an environmental risk to the area and are a safety concern for boaters.


http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/w ... c0f1a.html