Another Death in Fatal Van Crash Brings the Total to 6
A deadly crash in which a van full of suspected illegal immigrants swerved and tumbled on a desert highway has claimed another life, authorities said Monday.
Nereida Tapia, 19, of Mexico died Aug. 2 of injuries sustained in the Aug. 1 accident, Maribel Solorio of the Riverside County coroner’s office said Monday.
Of five people killed at the scene 140 miles east of Los Angeles, three have been identified: Juan Cruz, 30, of Phoenix; Sierra Valentin Melquiadez, 32, of Mexico; and Niceforo Guzman-Hernandez, 15, of Santa Rosa, Calif., California Highway Patrol Officer Todd Weichers said Monday.
Twenty people were in the 1987 Chevy van when it drifted into the center divider and overturned in the early hours of Aug. 1, authorities said. Cruz, the driver, had made a hard right turn to return to Interstate 40 traffic lanes before the van rolled over.
The vehicle held only two seats, one for the driver and another for a passenger. Several of the 14 injured -- ranging in age from 13 to 61 -- were critically hurt and were flown to hospitals in California and Nevada.
Weichers said police believe that all were illegal immigrants. An investigation is ongoing.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
