Border Patrol Chase Leads To Crash That Kills Seven, Arguments About Blame
A major accident in El Paso has left seven people dead and involved the Border Patrol. Dallas News reports.
Witnesses say that the Border Patrol was chasing a suspect’s van before the van crashed into the back of a parked tractor-trailer in a busy neighborhood. However, there are conflicting testimonies about the actions of the Border Patrol.
The Border Patrol claims they broke off the chase before it entered an area known locally as the “deadly curve”, but the witnesses say that the officers were in full pursuit at the time of the crash. Three security guards were about 65 yards away from the crash and told their story to the media. According to them, the Border Patrol car was going at high speed with no sirens going, just seconds behind the van.
Once the crash happened, the guards went to the scene immediately to assist and called 911. However, when they heard that the Border Patrol was blaming smugglers for the crash, they decided they had to come forward. Most of the people killed were teens and young adults.
A similar incident happened in January in the same location. There have been growing complaints from the leaders and activists about the actions of Border Patrol agents speeding on city streets. U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro is calling for an independent investigation.
