PALMVIEW, Texas (AP) — At least nine suspected illegal immigrants were killed and six more were injured when the van they were packed into crashed and rolled not long after a border patrol traffic stop in a South Texas town, police said today.
The van was demolished in the accident in Palmview around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, said police Cmdr. Lenny Sanchez.
Four men fled the wreck: two were caught and two remained at large early today, Sanchez said.
The van, designed to carry a driver and up to seven passengers, had been gutted to squeeze in more passengers, he said.
Border Patrol spokesman Enrique Mendiola said the accident occurred on U.S. 83, several blocks after border patrol agents stopped the van and another vehicle. One person fled the vehicle during the traffic stop and then the van took off. The other vehicle was not identified.
“At this point, there is no reason to believe there was a pursuit,” Mendiola said.
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