http://cbs4denver.com/crime/local_story_080114045.html

Mar 21, 2006 9:38 am US/Mountain

Troopers Investigate 6 Crashes With Immigrants

(CBS4) BRUSH, Colo. State troopers were investigating 4 separate accidents that all likely involved illegal immigrants from Mexico traveling on the Eastern Plains Tuesday morning. With 2 other similar crashes on Monday, there were a total of 6 accidents involving illegal immigrants during a 24 hour period in Colorado.

Investigators said all of the cases on Tuesday involved vans or SUVs that rolled over on icy roads.

The first accident on Tuesday happened at 6:35 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. 6 and Interstate 76 near Brush. Troopers reported that a Ford Econoline van with 16 people went out of control and rolled over. No one was hurt and all 16 people were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The second accident Tuesday happened on Interstate 70 near Seibert near mile marker 405 at about 7:10 a.m. Troopers said a Chevy Suburban rolled over with 10 people inside. No one was hurt and ICE agents were heading to the scene.

The third crash Tuesday was at about 8 a.m. back on I-76 near Brush. The state patrol said a Chevy Suburban rolled over with 4 people on board, some of whom suffered minor injuries. No one was taken to the hospital and ICE agents were reportedly responding.

The fourth accident Tuesday was at about 8:20 a.m., also on I-76 near Brush. None of the 12 people in a GMC van were hurt when the vehicle rolled over. ICE agents were again on their way.

The state patrol also reported a similar crash Monday night in which more than 2 dozen suspected illegal immigrants were taken into federal custody east of Brush. Troopers said a Ford van was headed east on I-76 about 5 p.m. Monday night when a semi driver tried to merge with other eastbound traffic.

The driver of the van lost control, spun around and hit the front of the truck before both vehicles went off the road. Authorities said 25 suspected immigrants fled the scene and ran to a McDonald's restaurant in Brush where they were captured.

There was a 6th similar crash near Byers on I-70 earlier on Monday. An SUV carrying 17 suspected illegal immigrants rolled over in that case.

The state patrol also said there were 2 cases Tuesday involving vans of suspected illegal immigrants that were stopped for traffic violations on the Western Slope along I-70. The vans were carrying a total of 31 people.

Troopers said the accidents were happening as illegal immigrants were entering the United States, mostly from Mexico, to find work with the growing season about to begin.