Eight people were killed and a dozen others injured Sunday in Texas when a car ran a dark red light into a group of people waiting for the bus outside a center welcoming migrants.
Law enforcement in the city of Brownsville said they could not immediately confirm whether it was an accident or a deliberate act, but a witness told AFP that the driver had “insulted” those present before accelerating.
The vehicle “ran a red light and ran over several people” around 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) in Brownsville, a town bordering Mexico in the southernmost part of Texas, the police spokesman told AFP. local Martin Sandoval.
“Seven people were killed and dozens injured,” he said. “We don’t know if all the people who died were migrants. We are investigating this with the border police,” he added.
American media later reported that one of the injured, taken to a local hospital, had died.
The driver was arrested and is being treated for injuries, according to Sandoval.
One of the migrants who was there told AFP that everything happened in “a few moments”.
“It all happened suddenly. A lady drove by and told us to get out of the way, and we got out of the way. It was a matter of a few moments. insulting us,” said Luis Herrera, a 36-year-old Venezuelan with an arm injury.
According to Mr. Herrera, the driver accelerated as he approached.
It was people present on the spot who then prevented him from fleeing while waiting for the arrival of the police.
He was arrested for “dangerous driving”, but “it is more than likely that there will be other charges later”, said Mr. Sandoval, without giving further details.
Sunday evening, the police had not yet revealed the identity of the driver. She announced a press conference for Monday morning.
The victims were among a crowd of about 25 people waiting at a bus stop outside a center for homeless people, which is currently accommodating migrants due to the current influx, the center director said. , Victor Maldonado.
According to him, they were Venezuelans, who had just had their breakfast at the center.
“Suddenly this SUV came at very high speed, hit the curb and split the group,” he said.
He described to AFP a scene of horror, with body parts scattered in the street, and witnesses “completely in shock”. The driver “tried to flee but the residents (of the center) caught up to him and immobilized”, he added.
The center is open 24 hours a day, and currently hosts migrants from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, China and Ukraine, as well as many Venezuelans, Maldonado said.
The news comes at a time when the authorities are preparing for the lifting, on Thursday, of a health measure taken because of the Covid and allowing the immediate expulsion of migrants, “Title 42”. Its expiration makes the authorities fear a spike in illegal entries into the United States.
08/05/2023 11:03:01 – Brownsville (United States) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
