Posted on 09/27/2005 12:31:37 PM PDT by Pa' fuera
A total of 26 immigrants who tried to cross into the U.S. were injured when the vehicle in which they traveled crashed into several vehicles which were returning to Mexico.
According to information given by personnel of the Attorney General’s office (Procuraduría General de la República - PGR), the Mexican Institute of Immigration (INM) and the Federal Preventative Police (Policía Federal Preventiva - PFP), the incident took place at 1:20 a.m. yesterday when the truck, driven by a presumed smuggler, was traveling the wrong way near Puerta Mexico (the entrance to Mexico at the international border).
The vehicle with the immigrants was a Ford Econoline with California plates, and finally crashed into a Jeep Cherokee after having collided with several vehicles along the way.
Of the 26 immigrants, four were taken to the Red Cross for the injuries they suffered, while the presumed smuggler escaped to the United States, where Border Patrol agents apprehended him.
Among the immigrants there were 4 minors, 2 girls and 2 boys, four women and 18 men from several areas of Mexico.
Six people inside the Cherokee were taken to Tijuana General hospital for medical attention.
Before the accident the vehicle was in line to cross the San Ysidro port of entry, but the driver decided to change lanes, apparently because he perceived a threat of being detained, and at full speed headed for the lanes head into Mexico.
PFP agents tried to detain the smuggler, but he ran towards San Ysidro, California, where he was detained by the Border Patrol.
The 24 migrants which were unhurt were turned over to the Ministerio Público as witnesses in order to take their declarations and determine responsibility.
The Border Patrol did not intervene.
U.S. authorities deny having detained anyone.
No police or immigration agency was involved in the accident of the vehicle which crashed in its attempt to enter the US by way of I-5, which ends at the Puerta Mexico, indicated Raul Martinez, spokesman for the Border Patrol in San Diego. “The vehicle crashed before entering the US, therefore we were not involved”, he affirmed.
or if all else fails, they can enlist the Mexican consular employees to spring them from jail, or sneak them out of the hospital if that's where the migra has taken them
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