Thread: Six illegal immigrants killed near Falfurrias checkpoint

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Six illegal immigrants killed near Falfurrias checkpoint
Thursday, January 26, 2006 Updated: 06:23 PM


Six dead and eight injured after severe traffic accident

FALFURRIAS – Six illegals are dead and eight others are injured after the pickup they were in slammed into an 18-wheeler. The accident happened north of Falfurrias.

There was also an SUV near the crash believed to be full of illegals. Many of them took off on foot. DPS Trooper Bryan Rippee said, “They bailed out into the field. If you’ve noticed a Border Patrol chopper, several officers are out there. Obviously we want to talk to them. On the DPS side, because they’re potentially involved in the accident and are witnesses.�

Border Patrol spokesman Roy Cervantes tells NEWSCHANNEL 5, “It’s suspected this is a smuggling case, but it’s under investigation. I can’t comment on the occupants in the truck.�

We’re told ICE will be looking into the investigation as well. They are trying to identify the victims. The Mexican Consulate has been notified.

DPS spearheaded the investigation. They talked to the driver of the 18-wheeler and recovered evidence. They haven’t ruled on who is at fault yet. We’re told the two vehicles carrying illegals were going east on FM 405 before sunrise Thursday. There was a white Expedition followed closely b y a Ford F150. When the Expedition reached the intersection of FM 405 and 281, the driver crossed 281 and went into a brushy area. The driver of the 18-wheeler swerved to keep from hitting the Expedition, but plowed into the Ford F150 that was right behind it. The 18-wheeler jack-knifed and landed on its side.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01737.html

Six Die After Pickup, Rig Crash in Texas

By LYNN BREZOSKY
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 26, 2006; 6:58 PM

FALFURRIAS, Texas -- Six people died and eight were injured Thursday when a pickup truck that authorities suspect was being used for human smuggling smashed into an 18-wheeler on a remote two-lane highway north of the Mexican border.

A Ford F-150 with 13 passengers pulled onto U.S. 281 from a narrow country road about 6 a.m. and hit the rig that was hauling cars, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Lisa Block said. A stop sign was flattened at the site, but it was unclear whether it was knocked down during or after the wreck.


The dead were five men and a woman, Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roy Cervantes said. Block said officials don't know where the deceased are from but that most of the injured are from Mexico.

Two people were flown to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital; the remaining were taken to Alice Spohn Hospital in Alice. Their conditions weren't immediately available.

Block said the truck was believed to be stolen.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating the case, and agents suspect the accident involved smuggling, spokeswoman Luisa Deason said.

Agents located several people who fled the scene and are interviewing them, she said. Deason said ICE will seek criminal charges with the U.S. Attorney's Office if they are able to determine "the ones responsible for this terrible tragedy."

Several people also fled from a sport utility vehicle that swerved to avoid the wreck, slid off the road and became lodged in a small wire fence surrounding nearby ranchland, officials said.

The wreck happened about 10 miles north of the Border Patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias. Border Patrol officials say illegal immigrants often try to avoid border checkpoints by cutting through desolate ranchland and meeting smugglers who drive them north.

Falfurrias is about 75 miles from the Mexican border, and about 170 miles south of San Antonio.

Mike Stanfield, who lives on a ranch near the accident site, said they didn't see the wreck but wouldn't be surprised if it was a smuggling operation.

"It's a big cash crop, this alien smuggling," he said.

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