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California: Accident vehicles after the crash on March 2nd
Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP
Four weeks after a serious car accident in southern California that left 13 dead, a 47-year-old man was charged with alleged mastermind of people smuggling.
The native Mexican was arrested on Tuesday night when crossing the border into the United States, the California judicial authority said.
According to the indictment, he was allegedly involved in the smuggling of dozens of migrants near the city of El Centro in early March.
If convicted, the Mexican faces up to 20 years imprisonment.
25 people crammed into an off-road vehicle
According to the border agency, the smugglers came from Mexico to California in several vehicles through a hole in the border fence on March 2.
First, the US investigators discovered a burning car, near which 19 people were hiding in bushes.
Shortly afterwards, the border guards were called to an accident site near the border town of El Centro.
A truck collided with an off-road vehicle at an intersection.
13 people were killed and others were injured, some seriously.
A total of 25 migrants from Guatemala and Mexico were in the SUV.
"Extreme contempt for human life"
There were only two seats for the driver and front passenger, and there were no seats and seat belts in the rear.
"For the greatest possible profit, these contraband rings bring as many people as possible across the border, regardless of their safety and well-being," said US Attorney Randy Grossman, according to a statement from the agency.
"Forcing dozens of people into a vehicle for eight people and rushing through the area in order not to be discovered shows the utmost disregard for human life." People smugglers will be prosecuted and brought to justice in order to avoid such "tragic and avoidable deaths" to prevent.
ala / dpa
