The Mexican consulate in El Paso confirmed that two Mexicans lost their lives and nine others were injured following a pickup truck rollover in the border community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
During the early hours of this Wednesday, it was reported that an SUV (Suburban) type truck that was transporting 12 people, including the driver and his co-pilot, had an accident while driving in the town that is about 20 minutes from El Paso bordering with Ciudad Juárez and that does not exceed 5 thousand inhabitants.
The head of the Unit for North America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velascoconfirmed the death of the two Mexicans in the road accident and announced that the consulate is already looking for the relatives to provide them with the corresponding support.
The Border Patrol attended the accident and it is already being investigated if it has to do with the smuggling of migrants across the border.
According to the first reports, Border Patrol agents arrived at the scene of the accident at 4:45 a.m., which occurred at the intersection of McNutt Road and Airport Road near Santa Teresa High School.
In this sense, it was reported that one person was detained by Border Patrol after the incident, but further details about his identity or legal status are unknown at this time.
One of the injured Mexicans is in critical condition and was airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso and another seriously injured was airlifted to the same hospital by the Sunland Park Fire Department.
The rest were taken to hospitals in the area, but no serious injuries were reported. In fact, tonight, through social networks, the Consulate reported that three of the Mexicans have already been discharged.
In addition to the fact that four have already been interviewed and that communication has already been established with some of the relatives of those involved who were injured when the van overturned.
In accordance with Daniel Medranofire chief of Sunland Park, another nearby town, who was present at the scene to respond to the emergency call, The truck overturned after it crashed into a utility pole.
“Migrant safety is always an issue, which is why the Border Patrol breaks off pursuits to try to prevent accidents like these, and in that case, it resulted in this particular case that the Border Patrol tried to stop the traffic and It was interrupted almost immediately,” Medrano told local media.
Meanwhile, the Mexican consulate in El Paso reported that local authorities are continuing the investigation. Both the names of those killed and those injured in the accident have not been released.
“Although the local authorities continue with the investigation of this incident, they have confirmed that so far two people whose identity is unknown have died. It is known that of ten people injured, nine are Mexican nationals,” the consulate explained in an information card.
Regarding this morning’s accident in Santa Teresa, NM, the Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso reports that of the 9 wounded nationals, four have already been interviewed and 3 have been discharged. Communication has already been established with some relatives of those involved.
— General Consulate of Mexico in El Paso (@ConsulmexElPaso) July 28, 2022
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At the moment the diplomatic authorities are monitoring the injured Mexicans who were transferred to different hospitals in El Paso and are preparing to provide the necessary consular assistance.
“The injured people were transferred to hospitals in El Paso, Texas, where Protection personnel from the Consulate General of Mexico are already present in this city, in order to monitor their health status and provide the necessary consular assistance. The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso, Texas, will provide timely follow-up to the medical evolution of hospitalized people, maintaining close contact with both family members and the corresponding law enforcement and hospital authorities,” the agency reiterated.
EHR
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