Weekly Rewind – Hole in border wall, collision details, survivor and community speak out
Catch up on the week's highlights + updates
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - So much happened this week involving a 25-passenger vehicular collision with a gravel truck, hole in the border wall and an additional vehicle which bursted into flames.
Let’s be clear, this breech is still under investigation, but here’s what is definite so far:
- El Centro Sector Radio Communications dispatch advised U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents working near Calexico, CA that a red Suburban was engulfed in flames near the intersection of I-8 and State Route 115 at about 5:56 in the morning on March 2.
- Within 10 minutes, a USBP squadron reported a 10-foot breach in the International Boundary Fence between Mexico and the United States near the Gordon’s Well exit/Schneider’s Bride area just off I-8 approximately 30 miles east of the Highway 115/I-8 interchange. The international boundary fence is a few hundred feet from Schneider’s Bridge. USBP reported they were actively working border infiltrations to the east and west of where the breach occurred.
- By 6:06 a.m., agents had reviewed surveillance footage which showed images of two different vehicles leaving the area in proximity of the fence breach.
- At approximately 6:30 a.m., agents assisting with the burning red Suburban encountered 19 individuals hiding in the brush nearby and determined they had entered the country illegally through the breach in the border fence.
- Just after 7 a.m., USBP assistance was again requested, this time with a vehicle collision near State Route 115 and Norrish Road.
- About 10 minutes later, members of the Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue team (BORSTAR) responded to the vehicle collision where a BORSTAR paramedic assisted with lifesaving efforts to accident victims. In total, 12 of 25 individuals in the vehicle at the time of the accident were pronounced deceased at the scene. An additional individual later died at an area hospital. All are alleged to have entered the U.S. illegally.
- The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has assumed lead over the investigation of the accident at State Route 115/Norrish Road.
A local firefighter who was first to arrive on scene details the events that happened and how it left an impact on him and his team. In his 29 years of being a first responder, he had never witnessed something so traumatic.
“It’s horrific, it’s tremendous, I can’t even explain how it looked,” recalls Chief Alex Silva, Holtville Fire Department. The national attention the deadly crash received has been mind-blowing, but Silva’s main focus has been his men and their mental health.
Since news broke about the gravel truck t-boning an overloaded Ford Expedition, community members have come forth paying their respects to those whom passed.
Among the car parts and articles of clothing you find scattered at the crash site, you’ll see candles and crosses each with a message of hope and unity.
16-year-old Jose Eduardo Martinez is one of 13 people who survived the accident. He was rushed to the Scripps Mercy Hospital, underwent two surgeries and is facing a long road to recovery on his lower body extremities.
The teen said the last thing he remember is getting onto the highway and then waking up in the hospital. Martinez told Telemundo 20, "Estoy agradecido con Dios que me dio otra oportunidad de vida." (I am grateful to God that he gave me another chance at life.)
Statewide data shows the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to Arizona hospitals are down roughly 80% since the January peak, with the number of those being vaccinated increasing everyday.
Considering 12.5% of all U.S. citizens live in California, the golden state accounts for just over 12.4% of nationwide cases. On the contrary, being that Arizonans make up just over 2% of America's population, Arizona makes up 7.3% of all COVID-19 cases.
