Eight people were killed when a suspected human smuggler fleeing from police on a Texas highway crashed head-on into another car on Wednesday, state authorities said.
The driver of a Honda carrying Honduran nationals tried to go around an 18-wheeler in a no-passing lane when he plowed into a Chevy SUV while being pursued by Zavala County Sheriff’s deputies, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson said.
The crash happened Wednesday, police said. @LtChrisOlivarez/TwitterThe SUV’s driver and passenger, both from Georgia, were killed. They were identified by authorities as Jose Lerma, 67, and Isabel Lerma, 65.
The alleged smuggler and five passengers were also killed in the fiery wreck. Several of the dead in that vehicle were from Honduras, authorities said.
The identities of the dead have not been released, and the investigation is ongoing.
Both cars were charred and torn apart, according to photos from the scene.
Both cars were destroyed by the collision. @LtChrisOlivarez/TwitterDangerous police chases involving human smugglers from the southern border have become commonplace.
A man transporting migrants killed a 7-year-old girl, her grandmother and two others as he tried to get away from police in March.
Two teen smugglers crashed their car on a Texas highway in February while leading cops on a high-speed chase. The illegal migrant they were carrying was seriously injured.
