TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND NINE OTHERS ARE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A CRASH STEMMING FROM A SUSPECTED SMUGGLING OPERATION IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. AUTHORITIES IN DONA ANA COUNTY SAY A VAN, BELIEVED TO BE CARRYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FAILED TO YIELD TO EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SIRENS SATURDAY EVENING. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION SAYS THE VAN SWERVED TO AVOID A TIRE DEFLATION DEVICE AND FLIPPED OVER.
TWO OCCUPANTS OF THE VAN WERE EJECTED AND DIED. FIVE OTHERS IN THE VAN WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR NON LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. THE VAN’S DRIVER WAS ARRESTED.
