CALEXICO, Calif.
The Ford Expedition carrying 25 people that was struck by a big rig Tuesday morning, killing 13, had crossed from Mexico after breaching a section of the border fence, federal officials said Wednesday.
Surveillance footage captured the Expedition and another SUV driving through a 10-foot gap in the metal fence near the Gordon’s Well exit, just off Interstate 8, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said.
Both vehicles were later involved in separate traffic accidents, including the fatal crash on State Highway 115 and Norrish Road in Holtville.
California Highway Patrol Chief Omar Watson said several of the 25 people crammed into the Ford Expedition were ejected into the road. Twelve died at the scene, and another person died a short time later, he said.
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SUV in crash that killed 13 may have crossed from Mexico through hole in border wall [Los Angeles Times :: BC-CALIF-CRASH-1ST-LEDE:LA]
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Authorities said they are still unsure what brought the SUV into the path of the truck and why so many people were inside of it.
Watson, who heads the agency’s border division, said the scene was “chaotic” when fire crews and law enforcement agents arrived about 10 minutes after the crash; it was not expected to be cleared until late evening because of the ongoing investigation. By late afternoon, the CHP was still working with the coroner’s office to identify passengers.
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At least 10 of the dead were Mexican nationals, said Roberto Velasco Álvarez, who heads the North America Department for the Mexican foreign ministry.