At Least A Dozen People Died After An SUV Crashed Into A Semitruck In California
An SUV crammed with people struck a semitrailer carrying gravel near El Centro in Southern California.
by Amber Jamieson
Updated on March 3, 2021, 2:13 amPosted on March 2, 2021, 8:02 pm
CBSLA / Via losangeles.cbslocal.com
The crash scene from above
A horrifying crash in Southern California between a semitruck and an overloaded SUV killed at least a dozen people on Tuesday.
"This was a major accident," said Adolphe Edward, the CEO of El Centro Regional Medical Center, at a news conference Tuesday morning. "We are aware that children were involved in this accident."
Officials initially said 14 people had died, but revised that number down to 13 as of Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities said more than two dozen people were crammed into the SUV that struck a semitrailer laden with gravel on Highway 115 near El Centro. California Highway Patrol Border Division Chief Omar Watson said the passengers ranged in age from 16 to people in their fifties and that the occupants included both men and women. The driver of the SUV, a 22-year-old from Mexicali, Mexico, was among the dead. The driver of the big rig sustained moderate injuries.
Watson told reporters that it was too early in the investigation to determine where the vehicle was coming from or what caused the collision. He described the scene as "chaotic."
"Some of the victims were ejected from the vehicle. There were some walking wounded that pulled themselves out of the vehicles, and then once the allied agencies and our CHP personnel arrived on scene they were also pulling people from the vehicle," he said.
CHP Officer Jake Sanchez told BuzzFeed News the SUV could probably legally hold nine people.
"This vehicle was obviously had way too many people in it," he said. "You can't seatbelt those people. As far as why, I don't know."
The crash took place at 6:15 a.m. about 10 miles from the US–Mexico border.
"I want to address an issue upfront with everybody: We don't use the term 'undocumented' in the hospitals," Edward said. "To us, these people that came to us are patients."
Facebook / Via Facebook: elcentroregionalmedicalcenter
A press conference by the El Centro Regional Medical Center on Tuesday
Most victims died at the scene, and one died later at the El Centro Regional emergency room, said Judy Cruz, the ER's managing director.
Hospital staff described horrific damage, including bone fractures and head and chest injuries.
Four injured passengers were flown out from the scene to Desert Hospital, and three passengers were transferred to Pioneers Memorial Hospital.
As of Tuesday, three passengers remained at El Centro Regional, and three were transferred by helicopter to a hospital in San Diego.
Amber Jamieson
Amber Jamieson is an editor for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Amber Jamieson at amber.jamieson@buzzfeed.com.