Tragedy struck South Texas on Wednesday as a pursuit involving a car suspected of carrying smuggled migrants resulted in a fatal collision, claiming the lives of eight individuals.
The incident unfolded around 6:30 a.m. when a suspected human smuggler from Houston attempted to evade Zavala County deputies in a Honda Civic.
South Texas Devastating Impact
The pursuit took a deadly turn when the car, overtaking a semi-trailer truck in a no-passing zone, collided head-on with a Chevrolet traveling in the opposite direction, as confirmed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The collision led to a fiery inferno, claiming the lives of the driver and passenger from Georgia in the Chevrolet. The 21-year-old driver of the Honda Civic and five other passengers also lost their lives, with police confirming that several of the deceased individuals hailed from Honduras. Their identities are being withheld until next of kin is notified.
Photographs from the crash site depict the mangled wreckage of the vehicles, with the Chevrolet visibly charred from the flames. Details regarding the speed of the vehicles at the time of the collision were not immediately disclosed.
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Border Patrol Pursuits Under Scrutiny
The number of fatalities in a migrant-related crash has not been higher since a mishap in Holtville, California in 2021 that claimed 13 lives. This horrific event occurred close to Batesville, some 80 miles southwest of San Antonio.
The pursuit has raised concerns from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Texas, which has been monitoring Border Patrol-involved pursuits.
The ACLU reported 106 deaths resulting from such pursuits between January 2010 and June 2023.
While the US Customs and Border Protection implemented a new vehicle pursuit policy earlier this year, the ACLU acknowledged it as a significant improvement. However, the organization stressed the importance of ongoing training, oversight, and accountability to ensure compliance with the policy.
The new policy adopts an objective reasonableness standard, requiring authorities to balance the need for apprehension with the potential risks posed to those inside the vehicle, law enforcement, and others on the road.
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