A van with 29 migrants in it crashed on Wednesday on a remote highway in South Texas. The driver was among the dead and 20 others were injured.It occurred shortly after 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, U.S. 281, Encino, Texas. This is approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of McAllen. Sgt. Nathan Brandley, Texas Department of Public Safety, says that the van, which is designed to carry 15 people, was speeding when the driver attempted to turn off the highway onto Business Route 281 The top-heavy van lost control and crashed into a stop sign and utility pole.Brooks County Sheriff Urbino said that the van was not being followed.Martinez stated that he believed all the passengers were migrants. Brandley stated that the initial death toll of 11 was announced, but it was later changed. Brandley also stated that all 20 survivors of the crash sustained serious or critical injuries.Brandley stated that the identities of the 30 people in the van are being withheld until their relatives can be notified. Brandley said that no information was available about the van, including its registration and who it belonged to, immediately.Encino is home to approximately 140 people, located about 2.22 km (3.22 km) south of Falfurrias Border Patrol.An increase in illegal migrants crossing the border has led to an increase in crashes involving vehicles packed with migrants. The Dallas Morning News reported that young drivers recruited for smuggling runs have caused horrific crashes.Victor M. Manjarrez Jr. is the director of the Center for Law & Human Behavior at University of Texas at El Paso. He told the newspaper that criminal groups recruit drivers from Austin and Houston. Some are from El Paso, while others hail from other parts of Latin America that are rife in police corruption.He said, "If you are caught, it will go bad for your,"Continue the storyManjarrez stated that they will be selected from a group of migrants looking for safe passage across the border to reduce their smuggling fees. They are instructed to follow a scout car.Manjarrez stated that it is not difficult for a few hours of work.The accident that killed 13 people was March 3. It involved a semitrailer truck colliding with a vehicle carrying 25 migrants. It happened about 125 miles (200 km) east of San Diego.Eight migrants were killed in a pickup truck accident that occurred on March 17. The truck was carrying them and it collided with another truck. Police were following the truck for nearly 30 miles (50 km) north of Del Rio, Texas. After pleading guilty on May 24, to multiple federal charges, the driver could face a life sentence. There has not been a date for sentencing.
