EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Two separate crashes that happened hours apart on Wednesday morning, Oct. 2, near UTEP and on Transmountain resulted from human smuggling pursuits, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
DPS says the first crash happened at around 7 a.m. Wednesday after troopers assisting DPS special agents tried to stop a Chrysler 300 involved in human smuggling.
The Chrysler fled on Transmountain Road and the driver, who has been identified as Ever Orlando Marquez-Diaz, 23, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, failed to negotiate a curve and struck the vehicle crossover cable barrier, according to DPS.
The Chrysler then came to a stop and Marquez-Diaz was placed under arrest for smuggling of persons. Seven migrants were detained and released to U.S. Border Patrol. No injuries were sustained during this incident, according to DPS.
The second crash happened at around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after troopers assisting DPS Special Agents tried to stop another Chrysler 300 involved in human smuggling.