http://sun.yumasun.com/artman/publish/a ... _22459.php

Crash of alleged smuggling truck sends 7 to YRMC

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Feb 17, 2006, 11:01 pm

An alien-smuggling load vehicle crashed into a vehicle Friday morning, sending six illegal aliens to the hospital with injuries.

At 6:22 a.m., emergency personnel responded to the crash at Somerton Avenue and County 13th Street. They found a 1992 Chevrolet pickup registered out of Mesa was traveling eastbound on County 13th Street and did not stop at the stop sign before entering Somerton Avenue, according to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

The pickup was struck by a 1996 Mazda pickup driven by Jose Melindez, 30, of Somerton, who was northbound.

The driver and front passenger of the smuggling vehicle fled on foot and were not found, according to YCSO. The six illegal aliens and Melindez were transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center.

YCSO did not have information about their possible injuries. A YRMC spokeswoman said the hospital did not have a record of Melindez.

The Yuma sector U.S. Border Patrol was not involved in the investigation of the crash, said spokesman Michael Gramley.