Human Smuggling Suspected in Deadly Crash

6 dead as SUV flips in Texas police chase
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 24, 2015 1:22 PM CDT
Human Smuggling Suspected in Deadly Crash
   (Shutterstock)

Human smuggling is suspected in an early morning crash outside Houston that left six people dead, seven injured, and two arrested, KTRK reports. The incident started when police tried to pull over an SUV for a traffic violation, according to the Houston Chronicle. The driver allegedly sped off, leading police on a nearly 10-minute freeway chase before losing control of the SUV. The vehicle flipped multiple times, ejecting four people, all of whom died at the scene, the Chronicle reports. Two others later died at the hospital.

Officers reportedly arrested two suspects who fled from the scene; the extent of their injuries is unknown. According to KTRK, the SUV's middle seats had been removed and the rear seats folded down in an apparent attempt to fit more people inside. Police say 15 people believed to be immigrants were crowded into the vehicle, reports the New York Times. The youngest, age 18, didn't survive. Police say most are from Honduras or Guatemala. (More human smuggling stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X