5 people charged in immigrant smuggling crash

Five people, including a man from Eagle Pass, were charged Tuesday with federal offenses in connection with a Sunday accident in Dimmit County that left five dead, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

All five are charged with transporting undocumented immigrants and conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented immigrants, resulting in serious bodily injury and death, according to a news release. They face potential maximum penalties of life in prison or death.

The fatal accident occurred after Border Patrol agents attempted to stop and inspect three vehicles traveling in a convoy on FM 2644 between El Indio and Carrizo Springs. One of the vehicles stopped, but the drivers of the two others fled. A Dimmit County sheriff’s deputy joined the pursuit, which reached 100 mph.

When the driver of a black Chevrolet Suburban, speeding east on Texas 85, lost control in Big Wells, the vehicle rolled several times and many of the passengers were ejected.

Four died at the scene, and a fifth died en route to a San Antonio hospital, the state Department of Public Safety said.

Charged were Jorge Luis Monsivais Jr., 20, of Eagle Pass; Marcial Gomez Santana, 55, a Mexican citizen; Mariela Reyna, 45, also Mexican; her son, Rudy Gomez, 21, of Hockley; and her daughter, Johana Gomez, 19, of Houston. All five remain in custody.

According to the criminal complaint, Monsivais was the driver of the Suburban that crashed, loaded with 13 undocumented immigrants. Seven of them remain hospitalized. One was released to the Border Patrol after receiving medical attention.

The driver of a 2008 Tahoe, a 17-year-old juvenile, evaded law enforcement before coming to stop. Several people absconded before Border Patrol agents detained the driver and 10 suspected undocumented immigrants, according to the news release. The juvenile driver remains in the custody of Dimmit County officials.

Of the 23 suspected undocumented immigrants involved, 21 were Mexican and two were Hondurans. Six are still being held as material witnesses.

David Caltabiano / KABB / WOAI / Associated Press Four people died at the scene on Texas 85 in Big Wells and a fifth died on the way to a hospital after a Suburban rolled while being chased by Border Patrol and Dimmit County deputies.