State, U.S. investigating deaths

Homeland Security Investigations is working to determine who is criminally responsible in a human-smuggling attempt that ended with five people dead after a high-speed chase with authorities in Big Wells. Nina Pruneda, spokeswoman for Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio, said several people are expected to be charged over the next few days.

The Department of Public Safety is also investigating the crash, which occurred during a chase by both U.S. Border Patrol and the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office.

According to DPS, the rollover occurred at 11:18 a.m. Sunday on Texas 85 near mile marker 426 in Dimmit County.

Dimmit Sheriff Marion Boyd said the chase reached speeds of more than 100 mph.

He said 12 people were ejected when an SUV rolled after it went off the road and caught gravel and the driver tried to reconnect.

The SUV was one of three vehicles spotted by a Border Patrol agent that kept going when agents found them, according to the Associated Press.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene and four others were airlifted to Brooke Army Medical Center, according to DPS.

One person died during transport to BAMC, DPS officials said.