Migrants’ Van Crashes; 1 Dead, 12 Hurt
One man died and a dozen others were injured Wednesday when a van packed with more than 20 alleged illegal immigrants skidded off a rural highway, slamming into a gas station.
The accident is the latest in Southern California involving illegal immigrants trying to elude authorities in a risky journey across the U.S.-Mexico border.
About 20 minutes before the accident, U.S. Border Patrol agents had tried to stop the van for a routine inspection near Jamul in eastern San Diego County.
But the van sped away, running a stop sign, and agents ended their pursuit, said Jim Pilkington, spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego. Agents are not allowed to conduct high-speed chases.
About 20 minutes later, the van missed a turn at the intersection of California 94 and Jamacha Road, skidded off the highway and careened into the gas station.
The van rammed three customers’ vehicles, pushing one through a plate-glass window of the station and narrowly missing the gas pumps, said Art Athans of the California Highway Patrol.
An unidentified 43-year-old man from Mexico died at Mercy Hospital in San Diego of massive injuries. Twelve other passengers were treated at local hospitals for minor to moderate injuries, Athans said.
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested seven uninjured passengers. It was not known if the driver was among them. At least three others got away on foot, Pilkington said.
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