Crash with a heavy truck near the US-Mexico border
Most of the dead are Mexicans, confirmed illegal modifications
Authorities start investigating over the possibility of smuggling
On the 2nd, the side of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that collided with a large trailer truck on a national highway near Holtville, Imperial County, California, was dent. Holtville = Reuters Yonhap News
A sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a large truck collided in a small rural village in California, the United States, bordering the Mexican border, killing about 10 people. The extraordinary number of casualties was due to a whopping 25 people on board the SUV, more than three times the capacity. Since most of the dead are Mexicans, the possibility of smuggling is predicted.
According to the US media on the 2nd (local time), an SUV and a large trailer collided on Route 115 in Holtville, California, at around 6:15 am, killing at least 13 people. At the intersection, it was found that the SUV was in a tragedy while entering the truck driving route. At the time of the accident, the number of passengers on an 8-seater SUV (1997 Ford Xperdition) was 25. Twelve people died immediately at the scene, and one died after being transferred to the hospital. The truck driver and other injured people moved to nearby hospitals are also known to be in serious condition, and the number of victims is likely to increase.
As a result of the investigation, 10 of the deaths were identified as Mexican nationals. There were many adults (20 to 55 years old), but some of the injured minors were around 16 years old. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) worked with the Mexican consulate to identify the victims.
Vehicles in the accident remain at the intersection of Route 115 in Holtville, California, where at least 13 people died on the 2nd. Holtville = Reuters Yonhap News
The reason that the traffic accident led to a major disaster was because the number of passengers exceeded the capacity. The SUV was converted to a structure that left only the front seats to carry as much people as possible. Chief of CHP Omar Watson explained, “There were no middle and rear seats in SUVs, so many people got in the car, and of course, they were vulnerable to safety.”
Apart from the police investigation, the Homeland Security Bureau is investigating the possibility that the reason for compulsory overage was linked to smuggling. In the accident area, many buses and SUVs carrying farm workers from November to March of the following year to harvest winter vegetables, and vehicles carrying smugglers from Mexico are frequently seen, the Associated Press reported. Adolf Edward, the head of El Centro Hospital, who is treating the injured, told the New York Times daily that “the injured people are presumed to be illegal immigrants.”
In-seo Lee, Intern Reporter
Subscribe to the Hankook Ilbo News Naver Channel
Balance to see the world, the Hankook Ilbo Copyright © Hankookilbo