Latest accident in the Tucson sector of the Border Patrol leaves three migrants dead. Thirty-two have died during the fiscal year.

IRENE HSIAO

More than twice as many illegal immigrants have died in car crashes in the Border Patrol's Tucson sector this year than last year, the agency reported.
Thirty-two illegal immigrants have died in crashes since the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year, including three in a rollover crash yesterday morning on State Route 83, said Andrea Zortman, a U.S. Border Patrol spokeswoman. Thirteen died in the previous fiscal year.

"The smugglers have absolutely no regard for human life," Zortman said.

They often overload vehicles and drive erratically, she said.

"They'll just load it until they can't fit anymore individuals inside of it. They just don't care at all," she said.

No smuggler has been identified in the most recent crash. The victims appear to be from Mexico. The one-vehicle crash occurred about 20 miles east of Tucson, south of Interstate 10, authorities said.

Sixteen people were inside the Ford F-250 pickup truck, which was reported stolen in Phoenix, Zortman said.

Victims' names are not expected to be released until the end of the week, said Officer Frank Valenzuela, a state Department of Public Safety spokesman.

Six immigrants went to Tucson hospitals with mostly minor injuries, he said. Seven others are in Border Patrol custody, Zortman said.

Three fled the scene; one was caught about a mile away and two are missing, she said.

The crash happened after a DPS officer tried to stop the truck for speeding about 7:50 a.m. and the driver sped away, said DPS duty Officer Dan Palmer in Phoenix.

Citizen Staff Writer David L. Teibel contributed to this article.