3 Killed as Van Full of Immigrants Flips

Three men were killed and at least eight others were injured when a van packed with undocumented immigrants rolled over and split open on Interstate 10 in Indio, the California Highway Patrol said Sunday.

“There were close to 20 people in this van when it rolled over, causing a catastrophic failure of its roof,� CHP Sgt. Paul Crescenti said of the accident late Saturday night. “The roof split open from close to the front window to the back doors, throwing one man out.�

Crescenti said investigators determined that the occupants entered the United States from Mexico on foot somewhere near Mexicali and then waited to be picked up by the white Dodge van.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m., the driver lost control of the van and it struck another vehicle, went down a slight embankment and rolled over. One man, Crescenti said, died when he was tossed out through the split roof. Two other men were killed inside the van.

Crescenti said the investigation into the cause of the crash was ongoing, but that the combined weight of the occupants is believed to have been a factor.

Paramedics took eight victims to nearby hospitals. Three males were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Riverside County coroner’s office. The identifications are pending, officials said. All are believed to be Mexican citizens.

Crescenti said CHP investigators had not yet determined who was driving the van.

Since the crash, Indio police and CHP officers have found several more passengers roaming in the surrounding agricultural area, Crescenti said. One man had been injured and was hospitalized.