At least 10 people have died and a dozen are critically injured after a van transporting migrants crashed near the US-Mexico border in Texas.
The tragedy happened on Wednesday afternoon in Brooks County, Texas, about 80 miles north of the border.
Images taken at the scene appear to show a damaged van lying idle on a grass verge after the smash, with windows and the vehicle's frame disfigured.
Brooks County Sheriff Urbino “Benny” Martinez said the driver had died at the scene and added that the van was top heavy and tipped over after it hit a kerb.
The driver was not involved in any police pursuit and 12 people have also suffered injuries, and are said to be in a critical condition.
Sgt Nathan Brandley of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the van had veered off Highway 281 in Encino, Texas, about 50 miles north of McAllen.
it then struck a metal utility pole at about 4 pm local time.
The driver and nine passengers were killed in the impact, Sgt Brandley said. The remaining 20 passengers were taken to local hospitals, where some of them were listed in critical condition.
The crash took place several miles from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, and Bradley said that the passengers appeared to be illegal immigrants. Texas authorities were working with the Mexican consulate to identify the victims, he said.
Sgt Brandley said the van did not have seats or passenger restraints and was crammed with twice the number of passengers it was designed to accommodate.
The Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation with assistance from the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers said an investigation is still ongoing.
It comes months after another deadly crash just miles from the border that left at least 15 dead in a separate incident.
In March this year it was reported that a vehicle slammed into the oncoming path of a truck driving on the State Route 115 near Holtville, Imperial County, California.
The tragedy took place about 10 miles east of El Centro and near the Mexican border.
