San Onofre
Twelve people were injured, none seriously, in a chain-reaction accident Tuesday that involved a pickup truck carrying nine illegal aliens, the California Highway Patrol said.
The accident occurred about 1:35 p.m. on Interstate 5 south of the Border Patrol checkpoint when the northbound pickup began changing lanes as he apparently attempted to see if the Border Patrol checkpoint was operating, the CHP said.
When the driver saw that it was operating, he slowed in an attempt to stop or make a U-turn, triggering a chain-reaction accident involving two following cars.
The nine passengers concealed in the back of the truck and three people from the two following cars were all taken to hospitals for treatment of minor to moderate injuries, authorities said.
The truck driver fled, the CHP said.
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