Posted on 04/21/2006 3:44:00 PM PDT by txdoda
Friday, April 21, 2006
Local News
Four killed, 20 hurt when truck wrecks near Elgin
By Manuel C. Coppola Friday, April 21, 2006 12:42 AM MDT
Wick News Service
ELGIN — Four people died and 20 people were taken to Southern Arizona hospitals after a pickup truck believed to be filled with illegal immigrants crashed around midnight Thursday.
“This is the worst incident (in Santa Cruz County) involving so many victims in recent memory,” said Antonio Estrada, the sheriff of Santa Cruz County.
Estrada said his department received a call shortly after midnight Thursday from Border Patrol. His department is leading the investigation, and details were still sketchy as the investigation was ongoing at press time.
“Apparently the driver was unable to negotiate a curve and the truck rolled over several times ejecting the passengers who were riding both in the cab and bed of the vehicle,” the sheriff said.
Seven helicopters and 13 ambulances responded to an accident on Upper Elgin Road.
A total of 20 patients were taken to hospitals in Sierra Vista, Benson and Tucson. Eight were flown by helicopter to hospitals.
Three people died at the scene, and one who was airlifted later died in the hospital, said Agent Jesus Rodriguez of the Border Patrol Tucson Sector.
Rodriguez said Thursday morning that an agent patrolling the area “came upon a cloud of dust” near the site just south of Highway 82.
The agent saw a Ford F-350 pickup truck that was later determined to have been stolen from the Phoenix area. Rodriguez said he saw victims strewn along the roadway and, using his training as an emergency medical technician, began helping some of the injured, while also calling for backup assistance.
Estrada said that it is believed the victims were illegal border crossers. The driver of a second vehicle was detained by lawmen and was being questioned about the incident Thursday morning.
MANUAL C. COPPOLA is publisher and managing editor of the Nogales International, a Wick Communications newspaper. He can be reached at (520) 281-9706.
US tax dollars @ work.....
Oh man. Each helicopter ride victim is going to have about a $100,000 hospital bill (assuming the injuries were severe enough to require life flight). Not a one will pay the bill. This has got to stop.
I've been in Arizona since petrified wood was soft; never heard of Elgin, though. Can't find it on any map, either. I know Santa Cruz Co., though.
This is what the libs want to continue happening.
About 25 NE of Sierra Vista....
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=&city=elgin&state=az&zipcode=
NE = NW
Sheesh.
I've been in Arizona since petrified wood was soft;>>>>>
That's pretty old !! but, you're still 'lookin' good........
http://www.city-data.com/city/Elgin-Arizona.html
At least, & EIGHT had to be flown...
And it happened AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
OK, txdoda -- thanks; I've even been down to Ft. HoochieKoochie a few times, but never saw Elgin. W/ 300 souls, no wonder. Live and learn. As to petrified wood, some things DO get better with age, more durable, harder (dream on).
" Each helicopter ride victim is going to have about a $100,000 hospital bill "
$ 100 grand for a ride in a helicopter ? No wonder so many folks want national health ! Utterly outrageous !
crime
more crime
deadly crime
: )
No, the helicopter ride is $7-8 thousand. The medical bills for someone who has to be life flighted usually run around 100K or more.
" The medical bills for someone who has to be life flighted usually run around 100K or more."
Still outrageous !
Sheesh and my insurance, which recently went up in price, just raised the price on my meds, outpatient surgery, specialistss, etc.
They were hurt and they needed medical attention. It doesn't matter to me if we spend taxpayer money to help them. What were we supposed to do, leave them on the side of the road?
The larger, more important question, is that they should never have been here to begin with.
What were they supposed to do? Leave them there to die?
The illegal aliens should never have been here to begin with.
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