Vehicle Turnover

Smuggling vehicle turnover leaves 11 injured and one dead

By Maria Ruiz

PRECINCT 3 – At approximately 10:45 a.m. today, La Joya Police, Precinct 3 Constable Larry Gallardo, and EMS responded to a call of a crash on 107 and west of Tom Gill Rd. that left one victim dead.

According to Constable Gallardo, police initially responded to a report of a smuggling vehicle transporting immigrants driving erratically and disobeying driving laws.

“At that point, we issued a traffic stop, and he evaded,” said Gallardo, who said the vehicle drove three more miles before they got to the end of the pavement on 7 Mile. “There was traffic on that road. Unfortunately, because of the speed of the driver and the conditions, a lot of dust..once it all cleared, the deputies realized it lost control and rolled over.”

The suspect driver has been apprehended and is currently recovering in the hospital alongside the injured victims.

The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to operate the investigation alongside federal partners.