EL PASO, TX — According to KTSM, a 19-year-old Texas resident was driving the SUV that crashed into a canal Monday morning in El Paso’s Upper Valley.
According to the El Paso Police Department’s Special Traffic Investigations unit, the fatal wreck occurred at the intersection of Upper Valley Road and Artcraft Road at about 5:30 a.m.
A preliminary investigation indicates the teen was driving a Ford Escape with 7 passengers when he lost control while driving at a high rate of speed. Officials said the vehicle hit a border patrol vehicle shortly before speeding away and crashing into an irrigation ditch.
The EPPD learned the teen driver had been transporting migrants, all seven of whom suffered injuries in the crash.
One male passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene, confirmed officials.
Six other passengers and the driver were transported to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries. The injured passengers range in age from 23 to 32 years old.
No further details have been made available at this time.
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