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Search continues for 18 illegal immigrants

The Oklahoman

YUKON -- Authorities continued to search today near Interstate 40 and Mustang Road after 18 illegal immigrants escaped from a traffic stop.

A federal agent was injured after falling and being assaulted by one of the illegal immigrants, officials said.

None of the illegal immigrants were armed when they escaped, officials said.

About 1:30 p.m., an overheated Oklahoma Highway Patrol cruiser ignited a field near Interstate 40 and Czech Hall Road, said Oklahoma City fire Maj. Brian Stanaland.

The patrol confirmed Lt. Kerry Massie was involved in the hunt for the illegal aliens when his car caught the grass on fire.

As of 3:30 p.m. law enforcement had detained 10 men in relation to the incident. Officials have confirmed that five of those detained had run from the van.

An OHP cruiser sparked a wildfire near I-40 and Czech Hall road this afternoon when it entered a field searching for the immigrants, officials said.

About 4 a.m., a Yukon police officer pulled over a weaving van as it headed east on I-40 near Mustang Road, said Mike Arnold, resident agent in Oklahoma with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Inside the van, the officer found 18 Mexican men, who said they were driving from Sacramento, Calif., to Atlanta, Arnold said.

After talking with them briefly, the officer found all of them were illegal aliens from Mexico, Yukon Deputy Police Chief John Corn said.

The illegal immigrants were searched at the scene and no weapons were found, officials said.

The officer called Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

As soon as a federal agent approached the van, the illegal immigrants ran from the scene, Arnold said.

The immigration agent chased the men, but fell down, Arnold said. As he lay on the ground, one or more of the illegal immigrants returned and assaulted the agent, , Arnold said.

EMSA workers took the 40-year-old agent to OU Medical Center. The injury was not an emergency, said Lara O’Leary, EMSA spokeswoman.