16 illegal immigrants injured after vehicle rollover near Douglas

BY BILL HESS
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004 - 09:38:22 am MST

Font Size

Herald/Review

DOUGLAS - Sixteen illegal immigrants were injured late Monday night after the vehicle they were in rolled over on Highway 191.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent, who was on routine patrol, came upon an overturned Suburban around 11 p.m. just north of Douglas, said Andrea Zortman, a spokeswoman for the agency's Tucson Sector.

The agent found the vehicle was empty, and then saw bloodstains and footprints heading off the shoulder of the highway.

Calling for backup, which quickly arrived, several illegal immigrants were found not too far from the highway, Zortman said. Others were discovered further in the brush.

Of the 16 illegal immigrants taken into custody, three were airlifted for medical treatment, eight were taken to area hospitals by ambulance and five were treated at the scene before being turned over to the Border Patrol, Zortman said.

At least four more people were probably involved, but they were not found, Zortman said.

One of the victims said the driver "was going at an excessive rate of speed and there was no one following the Suburban," she said. The rollover happened when a tire blew out.

The illegal immigrants apprehended are all from Mexico. An investigation is continuing to see if the driver of the vehicle is one of the people who was taken into custody, Zortman said.

The actions of the agent, who is not being identified, who came upon the accident scene "saved the lives of many of the people," Zortman said.

HERALD/REVIEW senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

Print this story Email this story

Font Size

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.
Comments appear once they are approved. Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

Joe Hicks wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:22 PM:

" I’m very angry about what’s happen in our country. The country of the freedom, country of the peace the country of the no discrimination helping other countries to bring concrete walls down (Germany) when we are building one. Keep in mind that part of our country it was theirs. If we don’t want them to come illegally, why the US embassy give some temporally working visas, so they can come legally and safely to the US to do the job that we don’t want to do. I think that’s why a lot of people around the world hate Americans. "

msjmd@aol.com wrote on Aug 31, 2007 6:48 PM:

" I especially liked the story concerning meth awareness and I would like information on how to start something like this in other states. There are a lot of counties affected by this wide spread epidemic. Please tell me how I can help them. Thank you! "

Paul Burket wrote on Jul 28, 2007 8:48 PM:

" I served aboard the Bisbee from August 1950 until May 1951 as engineer in the Motor Whale boat. She was quite a ship and I have many memories of her and the crew. I was surprised and pleased to see the article on the Plaque and Model Bisbee, AZ is putting up and the ship deserves to be remembered. "

cgb168@aol.com wrote on Jul 17, 2007 9:30 PM:

" zipcode of property? "

Laura A. Figueroa wrote on May 29, 2007 9:07 PM:

" Dear Villa Vista staff, congrats. for opening your new facility i hope it goes well in the summer i hope to see you soon. "

David C. Braum wrote on May 17, 2007 7:24 AM:

" It seems to me that United States Army Crew Chiefs and Door Gunners who saw Combat or performed Combat Support Missions in the Vietnam War from 1960-1975 should be officially authorized to wear the Basic,Senior and Master-Army Aviation Crewmember Badge-Device. "

Susan wrote on May 2, 2007 12:54 PM:

" I was told there was a picture showing all the dust the wind was blowing around. I can't find it. "