Thread: AZ: More than 20 IAs hurt when van rolls near Douglas

More than 20 illegal immigrants hurt when van rolls near Douglas
By Gentry Braswell/Wick Communications
Published: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:35 PM CDT

SIERRA VISTA - A van carrying more than 20 illegal immigrants struck a guardrail north of Douglas and rolled early Thursday morning, authorities said.

The wreck injured 24 people, many of whom were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the 1996 Ford Club Wagon, according to the Department of Public Safety. Twenty-six people were said to have been in the van.

The van, which was carrying more than 20 illegal immigrants, wrecked early Thursday morning. Courtesy of the Arizona Department of Public Safety

It was the second wreck in the past month that involved a vehicle filled with illegal immigrants.

Thursday's wreck occurred after midnight about 13 miles north of Douglas on Highway 191.

Seven people were flown to hospitals in Tucson, one with life-threatening injuries. The DPS said 17 others were taken by ambulance to the Southeast Arizona Medical Center in Douglas, the Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee and Northern Cochise Community Hospital in Willcox.

Other occupants of the van left the scene and were found at various locations throughout the morning, the DPS said. It's unknown if everyone who was in the van has been accounted for.

The U.S. Border Patrol was called to assist about 12:30 a.m.

"We sent out everybody we had as far as first responders and EMTs, and set up triage," Tucson Sector Border Patrol spokesman Rob Daniels said.

The Border Patrol also sent agents in vans to collect anyone in violation of immigration laws who didn't need to be transported for further medical attention.

He said the crash was a result of a blowout, probably caused by factors all too common with human smuggling.

"And this gives us an opportunity to talk about the dangerous conditions the smugglers put the aliens into, that they will overload a vehicle past the safe weight limit, they will drive on bald tires, they will alter the suspension of the vehicles and they will be definitely driving too fast to control the vehicle as it's supposed to be. So when this tire blew out, it was just bodies everywhere," Daniels said.

Incidentally, the illegal immigrants being packed body-to-body likely was what kept the accident from being fatal, Daniels said.

At least one of the illegal immigrants was from Guatemala, and most were apparently from Mexico, Daniels said.

The Border Patrol reported different figures in regards to the injured in the wreck.

Daniels said the agency reported six people were flown to University Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center. The agency reports three illegal immigrants were taken to the hospital in Willcox, two were taken to Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee, and 10 were taken to the Douglas hospital. All, Daniels said, were treated and released.

Two illegal immigrants were taken by AirEvac to Phoenix, and they were later treated and released, Daniels added.

Five Mexican nationals also were taken from the scene to the Douglas station for processing.

Daniels said neither the smuggler nor the driver of the crashed van have been identified for prosecution.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation has been opened, and that agency will conduct interviews with those involved, Daniels said.

In addition to the Border Patrol and ICE, agencies assisting the DPS in follow-up and on-scene investigation include the Cochise County Sheriff's Office and Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission personnel.

It was the second crash this month that involved illegal immigrants.

On April 13, two illegal immigrants died and three were sent to the hospital after a 1997 Dodge extended cap pickup truck carrying 15 illegal immigrants wrecked, throwing some of the people from the vehicle. Francisco Javier Morquecho-Valdez, 19, of Mexico, has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on charge count of transporting illegal immigrants for profit/resulting in death.
http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/article ... news06.txt

I'm waiting to see that Bum the Governor of AZ , take each and every illegal in the hospital a flower .