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Van wreck leaves four dead on I-19

By Dan Shearer
Published Tuesday, April 21, 2009 9:53 AM MDT

A deadly corridor popular with smugglers hauling people and drugs claimed four lives early Saturday when a van packed with 14 suspected illegal immigrants rolled on Interstate 19, killing four of them.

Three people were dead at the scene and a fourth died on the way to the hospital, according to Capt. Melissa Smith, a spokeswoman for the Green Valley Fire District.

The van blew a rear tire and tumbled several times into the median about 5 a.m. just north of Continental Road. The impact sent several passengers through windows and onto the pavement.

Three people were dead at the scene and a fourth died on the way to the hospital, according to Capt. Melissa Smith, a spokeswoman for the Green Valley Fire District.

Several others were transported by ground and air to Tucson. The crumpled van appeared to be designed for seven or eight passengers.

John Rogers of Los Angeles was asleep nearby when the noise woke him.

“I went outside with my dogs,” Rogers said. “I saw the lights and everything started to happen with the Border Patrol and everybody else.”

Rogers said he videotaped what appeared to be law enforcement officials detaining two injured men with bloody faces at Esperanza Road near the East Social Center.

Shura Wallin, co-founder and coordinator of Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans, came across the scene about an hour after the accident and called it “a hideous situation.”

“This is one example of why immigration reform has to be forthcoming,” she said. “We cannot allow people to die like this.”

The Samaritans carry food, water, socks and medical supplies into the desert to assist those who need help.

“Our mission is to save lives,” Wallin said, calling the accident “one more example of the ruthlessness of the current situation.”

Dozens of accidents occur every year on the 60-mile stretch of I-19 from Nogales to Tucson, where drug and human smuggling is lucrative and common.

Saturday’s accident just days after Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security, visited the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales. A sharp increase in border violence and reports of immigrant-related kidnappings, largely in Phoenix, have refocused the spotlight on smuggling efforts.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first accident of this kind in our area nor will it be the last,” said Laurie Jurs, a member of the Samaritans. “It’s the human part of the collateral damage from our failed and failing immigration policies. There’s got to be a better way.”

(Reach the writer at dshearer@gvnews.com.)

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Comments

Tired of the Playing of Emotions wrote on Apr 28, 2009 12:59 PM:

" I am sorry, but if you decide to take the risk to illegally enter this country, knowing it can be dangerous, even deadly, and you get injured or died, I can feel no compasion for you. "

Ali8 wrote on Apr 26, 2009 12:26 PM:

" So Many STUPID people in this country.....I think we are destined to become a third world country.....all you jerks fighting with your keyboards, don't matter...nothing you say or do matters....this country is headed for DOOM "

Twizzled wrote on Apr 26, 2009 8:31 AM:

" You have got to be kidding! Ignorance is bliss! You ALL must be a happy bunch!!! "

Im just saying wrote on Apr 25, 2009 8:25 PM:

" If you live legally in the U.S. of A. you have right, which in all menas were portected in this pursuit. If you are here illegally... you must not run, but turn yourself in, and try agan... the catsa re winning right now! But better yet, these selfish jerks that transport the illegals are not to blame? that is when everyone should start to think that they are the ones to blame. The do not have any respect to human life... as we all have witnessed in this border. They shuld be punished to the fullest!

I do feel for the humans who lost their lives, but they know that dangers and consequences of such acts. "

Jon D wrote on Apr 25, 2009 5:54 PM:

" I am not a Democrat - nor a Republican and nor does it matter. I simply asked a question. But, some folks take to getting very defensive to an extreme.
Must have hit a nerve I guess. "

Sunny Day wrote on Apr 24, 2009 4:06 PM:

" The LEFT are not the ones that are having "teabagging parties" and then being duped by Democrats.

The LEFT are not the ones spouting lies about banning guns, leading some to resort to violence as was the case in Alabama a month ago.

The LEFT are not the ones that follow FOX NEWS blindly.

The LEFT don't defend torture, then insist that they protect the Constitution.

The LEFT did not bring the economy to near collapse.

The LEFT is able to think in broader terms, which means sometimes looking to blame BP for somethings if that MAY be the case.

The LEFT is not ignorant, sorry. Keep trying. "

Am wrote on Apr 24, 2009 10:18 AM:

" Stars Stripes Truth Hurts
Must be BP Agent..... and was just a comment... why take it personal "

Stars Stripes wrote on Apr 24, 2009 10:14 AM:

" My comments? Please elaborate. Maybe I should have been the one to have blamed the Border Patrol for these idiots putting peoples lives in danger. Or wait, maybe DPS or possibly even the maker of the donut tire. Maybe they were even fleeing from the "Domestic Terrorist ex-Vets" that Napolitano is so worried about. Maybe I should blame the Bush Administration for not opening up our borders to Mexico and pushing them to the front line so they don't have to wait like the people from all of the other countries in the world. Lets blame everyone else but the CRIMINALS (I know you like the CAPS) that are endangering our lives on the highway. I have no problem with Democrats. I just don't like the left, because as you can see from the first two posts they like to make comments that are not only ignorant, but that have absolutely no factual base. "

Sunny Day wrote on Apr 23, 2009 12:31 AM:

" Isn't it funny how Democrat-hating posters who would allow the Constitution to be decimated under George Bush and would not know the basic history of the founding of the country if Benjamin Franklin wrote it down and mailed it to them always post under something uber patriotic like Stars and Stripes?

Ha Ha. What they don't understand is that this is a country by the people and for the people, and the people have chosen the Left of Center way thanks to remarks like these.

Please ...please....please keep posting Stars and Stripes, and the CAPS LOCKS only adds to the distress.

Please keep posting and please please please give us Palin and Joe the Plumber in 2012! "

Kudos wrote on Apr 22, 2009 5:59 PM:

" wow!!! Stars and stripes, Hazardous situation, and Fox Trot!!! Your comments were OUTSTANDING!!! You left me with nothing else to say!

YES!! "

Foxtrot wrote on Apr 22, 2009 4:44 AM:

" Well, those two are not just dumb, they are left wing Democrats. Who in there right mind would want to blame the US Border Patrol for what happened? Lots of people would! Thats why our country is in Distress, so many people are not in there right mind.
God Bless The USA "

Hazardous Situation wrote on Apr 22, 2009 2:00 AM:

" Whether law enforcement is pusuing or not, these human smugglers are not interested in safety, they are interested in how much money they can make off a carload of illegals, sacrificing all safety- yours, mine and theirs. We all pay the consequences as they endanger our roads and lives. They are a safety hazard because they are driving crappy cars that are super loaded beyond their weight capacity with many, many UNrestrained passengers. Don't knock law enforcement, they are trying to keep us safe, but they have to keep up with the idiots that are breaking the law and trying to get away. Be cautious of your surroundings always and pull off to the shoulder when you see the flashing lights for your safety, because that is the least we can do as our brave law enforcement rush to face danger face to face. "

Stars Stripes wrote on Apr 21, 2009 9:11 PM:

" Yeah, you two are dumb. NO, the Border Patrol was not pursuing. They were however, the first on scene as usual because they, THANK GOD, are everywhere PROTECTING the citizens of the United States. The van had a donut spare tire on it with FOURTEEN people in it. Pursuit Policy? How about ram these idiots off the road and preserve the lives of the decent people driving their children to school or driving to work? And yeah, AM, lets follow the retards that are endangering everbody else's lives who are legally driving down the road. Brilliant idea, let go of your tree before you make stupid comments. Both of you are clueless, the types that only learn when one of these jerk offs blows out their tire and kills one of your loved ones. As for the "Samaritan" calling for better immigration reform, how about making it a crime for you ignorant liberals to aid illegals by leaving them food and water, that way they quit before they load into a vehicle and put the good people of this country in danger. Find something worthwhile to do in your spare time. How about this, join the Minute Men, so instead of attempting to save illegals by leaving them water, you can save them and do your country a service by getting them arrested before they hurt themselves. News flash, your not saving anyone, your making it less painful for them to sneak through the desert for the 4 minutes it takes them to drink one of your gatorades. Wake up Santa Cruz County, theses varmint are endangering YOUR lives every single day. Stop blaming the Border Patrol and blame those that are breaking the laws of this country. "

Jon D wrote on Apr 21, 2009 8:03 PM:

" Was this van being, (at the time of the accident) "pursued" by our U.S. Border Patrol? Hmmm....Pursuit policy?
How about it Nogales International - How about asking the tough questions!! Human life has been lost - for what and at what cost? "

Am wrote on Apr 21, 2009 4:15 PM:

" Their right this is not the first accident we have had many accidents and my opinion is that they are caused by The Border Patrol they just want to arrest illegals and bust drug they dont care about anybody's lives..........istead of letting the individuals get to their destination and follow them and then make any arrest...no they prefer to pursuit them and cause this type of accidents which not only the people they are chasing are in dangerous there are other drivers on the freeway or streets......be concious and think about how many lives they have taken............ "

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