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By Bethany Blankley (The Middle Sq.)
Six individuals had been killed Wednesday in a head-on collision ensuing from a human smuggling occasion in a Texas border county.
Texas Division of Public Security Lt. Chris Olivarez made the announcement on social media and posted footage of the demolished vehicles, saying, “DPS is investigating a two-vehicle deadly crash on US 57 close to Batesville.”
Freeway 57 stretches roughly 98 miles from the border city of Eagle Move, Texas, to Freeway 35, which is a serious human smuggling route from Laredo to San Antonio. It winds via rural ranch land, farmland and small cities with few cease indicators and cease lights.
Smugglers usually drive to and from San Antonio and Eagle Move alongside what they imagine are much less traveled and rural routes 481, 277, and 83 to get to main highways like I-90 and I-35, legislation enforcement officers have defined. The aim of smugglers is bringing their “human cargo” to main cities, together with Houston, which is the key human smuggling hub in Texas, legislation enforcement officers have advised to The Middle Sq..
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On Wednesday morning, Zavala County Sheriff’s Workplace deputies engaged within the pursuit of a driver of a Honda passenger automobile from Houston who was suspected of human smuggling. Persevering with to evade seize, “The driving force handed an 18-wheeler in a no-passing zone,” Oliveraz mentioned, after which drove head-on right into a Chevy SUV. The collision brought about the Chevy to burst into flames, killing the driving force and passenger from Georgia.
“5 passengers, together with the suspected smuggler of the Honda, had been killed,” he mentioned. “Troopers confirmed a number of of the deceased are from Honduras. Identities might be launched as soon as the following of kin is notified. That is nonetheless an ongoing investigation.”
He later mentioned, “Jose Lerma, 67, and Isabel Lerma, 65, of Dalton, Georgia, WhitField County, had been the occupants of the Chevy SUV,” who had been positively recognized. Their household has been notified.
NEW: 11/8, @TxDPS is investigating a two-vehicle deadly crash on US 57 close to Batesville. The driving force in a Honda passenger automobile from Houston suspected of human smuggling was evading from Zavala COSO when the driving force handed an 18-wheeler in a no-passing zone. The driving force drove head-on… pic.twitter.com/KdxZ7wmvkk
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) November 8, 2023
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It’s due to incidents like this and others that Gov. Greg Abbott says he directed the state legislature to extend penalties for human smuggling. Within the third particular legislative session, the legislature handed SB 4 with bipartisan help. Filed by state Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, the invoice will increase penalties for human smugglers and operators of stash homes, together with making human smuggling a third-degree felony, carrying a 10-year minimal jail sentence.
“By establishing harsher penalties for these engaged in human smuggling and stash home operations, SB 4 can be an necessary step in deterring crime alongside the Texas-Mexico border and defending harmless lives,” Flores mentioned within the bill analysis. Present penalties for the human smuggling “are inadequate, as they haven’t successfully deterred people from participating in these crimes,” the evaluation states.
The invoice was despatched to the governor’s desk on Nov. 2, which he’s anticipated to signal quickly.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
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