Fourteen killed in Texas pick-up truck crash

on 23/07/2012 19:02:18

Fourteen people died and nine were injured after a pick-up truck left the road and crashed into trees in rural southern Texas, authorities said today.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Greg Palmore said the dead included citizens of Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

At least two young children were among the dead. The 23 people were loaded inside the truck's cab and in the bed.

The pick-up was heading north on US 59 on Sunday evening when it travelled off the right side of the highway near the unincorporated community of Berclair and struck two large trees.

Police said several surviving victims had life-threatening injuries.

Gerald Bryant, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said: "This is the most people I've seen in any passenger vehicle, and I've been an officer for 38 years.

"It's unknown whether or not (the victims) were illegal, but it's possible."

The US Border Patrol will assist with the investigation.