13 die in single vehicle crash in TX: 23 people in cab and flatbed of pickup truck

[cali]

(GOLIAD, Texas) — Investigators say a single-vehicle wreck in rural South Texas has left 13 people dead and 10 hurt.

At least 23 people were crammed into the bed and cab of the pickup truck when it veered off a highway and crashed into trees Sunday evening in Berclair, about 100 miles southeast of San Antonio.

Border Patrol agents are assisting the Department of Public Safety in the investigation into the crash in Goliad (GOH'-lee-ad) County. It was not clear if those involved were illegal immigrants.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2120220,00.html#ixzz21SDu6LIk

[Wait Wut]

1. Why.

Not a question, frustration. This happens far too often and if I had any argument supporting stricter border enforcement, this would be it. I'm sick of hearing about people dying because some asshole wanted to make a living off of exploiting people that are just looking for a better life and not giving a damn about their health or safety.

There were children in that truck.

[Gman]

3. My first thought last might were whether they were illegal

This is the first news story to say it. It's very likely as cramming that many people into a vehicle is SOP. Probably headed for Houston on a day when traffic was light and they were less conspicuous.

Im guessing someone in the front seat shifted, bumped the driver and caused him to veer.

[ananda]

2. I read about this accident this morning.

What a sad thing.

When I was growing up, I learned how dangerous it was for people
to ride in the back of a pickup. I did ride that way a few times,
but it was on a back country road with almost no other cars,
and the driver always went slow. I have the same kind of respect
for motorcycles, to the point that I have never been on one and
try to notice them on the road and drive more carefully around them.

[w8liftinglady]

4. Unfortunately,this is not a new thing.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2506&dat=19821006&id=3XVJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YQsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1819,1545075
http://www.mysanantonio.com/slideshows/news/slideshow/New-frontier-for-DPS-is-stopping-smuggling-44309.php
http://rancholosmalulos.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/signed-affidavits-final.pdf
http://petergormanarchive.com/at/fort-worth-weekly-cover-stories/border-wars.html