Wreck on causeway nets six illegal South American immigrants
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PORT LAVACA - A traffic stop turned high-speed chase down state Highway 35 and over the Lavaca Bay causeway ended in a bail out of more than 10 suspected illegal immigrants Wednesday afternoon.
The chase began as a traffic stop at the intersection of Half League Street and state Highway 35, Police Chief John Stewart said.
The white Ford van increased in speed going north on state Highway 35 and rear-ended a vehicle on the causeway. It also eventually rear-ended Officer Stephen Stroud's patrol vehicle, Stewart said.
People then began jumping out of the van, Stewart said.
At one point, the van was recorded traveling more than 80 mph in a 40 mph zone, Stewart added.
The condition of two women in the first vehicle stuck was unknown, Stewart said.
Stroud was taken to Memorial Medical Center for observation and was later released, the chief said.
"The officer had no idea all these people were in there," Stewart said.
At least six of the suspected illegal immigrants were caught and taken into custody. The rest got lost in the brush, he said.
"They all appear to be South American," Stewart said. "We're calling immigration to come in."
Several of those apprehended sustained injuries as a result of the wrecks, Stewart said.
Though the search was called off, the police department, Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and a Department of Public Safety helicopter continued searching the area Wednesday afternoon.
Comments
I believe Officer Stroud is the same officer that the Wave just did a story on for shooting tires at a vehicle that was carrying illegals because he didn't want to chase it.
September 17, 2009 at 10:27 p.m.We live in Point Comfort, just like the occupants of the blue car, and we have to cross that causeway several times a day to live our daily lives. This is just another story to add to the list of close calls. Now, in addition to morning rush, quitting time speedway, cell-phone talking drivers, we have to contend with illegals speeding from the law. We will get up tomorrow and do it again with this latest incident in our minds and be just that much more aware. I would also like to thank God for the protection he gave my good friends and neighbors in that car.
September 17, 2009 at 9:57 p.m.My geography class taught me that there were 7 continents of which none were Central America.......
September 17, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.Now how do we know that these people were South Americans? they could had been Mexicans or Central Americans. Oh yeah, I forgot, our geography class taught us that only the US is North American and perhaps that pesky Canadian land above us. Mmmmmm, just a thought.
September 17, 2009 at 9:57 a.m.Where are all these people going? You know they will slap them on the hand, send them back, and they will be crossing that causeway again in a week. Is the person driving the van a "smuggler"? Is the penalty harder for him? The illegals should be handled just like drugs, they are both tax evasion, which is the main reason they are illegals.
September 17, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.I was coming over the causeway bridge when all this was going on. I was almost in a head on with a small light-blue or green compact. It bounced over the median and into my path but then jumped back just in time. It all happened so fast I never saw the van with the illegals.I'm still digging the metal from the brake pedal out of my toenails.
September 17, 2009 at 8:09 a.m.