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BeyondGeography

(39,999 posts)
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 12:38 PM Mar 2021

At least 15 people dead after SUV, semitruck collide in southern California, hospital says

Source: USA Today

A t least 15 people died after an SUV with dozens of passengers collided with a semitruck carrying gravel near the U.S.-Mexico border in California on Tuesday morning, according to officials with El Centro Regional Medical Center.

"We believe there was 27 passengers in this SUV that struck a semitruck full of gravel," emergency room managing director Judy Cruz said in a Facebook Live video.

At least 14 people died at the scene of the "major accident," Cruz said. Three people were flown to a hospital, she said. Seven patients were taken to El Centro, where one person died. Two patients were taken to Pioneer Hospital, she said.

...The Imperial County emergency services office responded to the "mass fatality incident" at 6:16 a.m. PT, deputy fire chief Sal Flores told the L.A. Times. Imperial County Fire department told USA TODAY multiple agencies were responding to the scene.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/03/02/imperial-county-crash-multiple-dead-southern-california-reports/6885406002/

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At least 15 people dead after SUV, semitruck collide in southern California, hospital says (Original Post) BeyondGeography Mar 2021 OP
27 people in an SUV? Haggard Celine Mar 2021 #1
I can't even imagine how you could fit 27 people in an SUV RAB910 Mar 2021 #2
I can't either. Haggard Celine Mar 2021 #3
Just my guess, but I would assume children are involved. Quackers Mar 2021 #8
Yeah, I didn't think about that. Haggard Celine Mar 2021 #9
I would think it would have to be, but even then that number is mind boggling RAB910 Mar 2021 #13
They were ages 16-55, apparently migrant workers. SunSeeker Mar 2021 #19
After watching this video, I know it is possible csziggy Mar 2021 #10
I still don't see how they managed this! Karadeniz Mar 2021 #16
Stack them like firewood, I expect csziggy Mar 2021 #18
Down by the border More_Cowbell Mar 2021 #4
Maybe their definition of an SUV is different than ours. demosincebirth Mar 2021 #5
There was a picture of the vehicles beside the article. Haggard Celine Mar 2021 #6
Just seen it. Wow! demosincebirth Mar 2021 #21
The picture is in a tweet down below the article at the link. Haggard Celine Mar 2021 #7
Ford Expedition forthemiddle Mar 2021 #11
You're right. What tragic accident! demosincebirth Mar 2021 #22
Assuming that is one of Ford's full size SUVs, 27 average weight people would overload it mn9driver Mar 2021 #12
Years ago Codifer Mar 2021 #14
I read that they take out the seats and people crouch jammed together on the floor. alphafemale Mar 2021 #15
Yes, there was only a driver and front passenger seat in the thing. SunSeeker Mar 2021 #23
the emotional and sometimes Roc2020 Mar 2021 #17
agreed Skittles Mar 2021 #20

Haggard Celine

(17,018 posts)
3. I can't either.
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:01 PM
Mar 2021

It's no wonder they had a wreck. The driver must have had people pressed up against him while he was trying to drive. That is crazy!

Haggard Celine

(17,018 posts)
9. Yeah, I didn't think about that.
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:25 PM
Mar 2021

So many people down there live lives of desperation. I have no idea how they manage to get up every day and function in so much pain.

SunSeeker

(53,582 posts)
19. They were ages 16-55, apparently migrant workers.
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 07:11 PM
Mar 2021

Horrific what immigrants go through for a better life. Authorities are working with the Mecican consulate to identify them.

csziggy

(34,189 posts)
18. Stack them like firewood, I expect
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 06:48 PM
Mar 2021

I don't really see how they can cram that many kids in there, either. Notice in the Mongolian video, the largest kids come out last - they each must have had several smaller kids on top of them. I get images of "turtles all the way down" but with kids.

The linguist John R. Ross also associates James with the phrase:

The following anecdote is told of William James. [...] After a lecture on cosmology and the structure of the solar system, James was accosted by a little old lady.

"Your theory that the sun is the centre of the solar system, and the earth is a ball which rotates around it has a very convincing ring to it, Mr. James, but it's wrong. I've got a better theory," said the little old lady.

"And what is that, madam?" inquired James politely.

"That we live on a crust of earth which is on the back of a giant turtle."

Not wishing to demolish this absurd little theory by bringing to bear the masses of scientific evidence he had at his command, James decided to gently dissuade his opponent by making her see some of the inadequacies of her position.

"If your theory is correct, madam," he asked, "what does this turtle stand on?"

"You're a very clever man, Mr. James, and that's a very good question," replied the little old lady, "but I have an answer to it. And it's this: The first turtle stands on the back of a second, far larger, turtle, who stands directly under him."

"But what does this second turtle stand on?" persisted James patiently.

To this, the little old lady crowed triumphantly,

"It's no use, Mr. James—it's turtles all the way down."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down#Modern_form

More_Cowbell

(2,204 posts)
4. Down by the border
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:03 PM
Mar 2021

I lived in San Diego for years, and it's not uncommon that people would cross the border in CA or AZ and then be picked up, often in a box truck with no windows, and driven north. As you say, an SUV with that many people is insane. Those poor people and their families.

Haggard Celine

(17,018 posts)
6. There was a picture of the vehicles beside the article.
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:18 PM
Mar 2021

I saw some sort of Ford SUV. Don't know if it was an Explorer or a bigger one.

mn9driver

(4,567 posts)
12. Assuming that is one of Ford's full size SUVs, 27 average weight people would overload it
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:42 PM
Mar 2021

by 3000 pounds or more. Not even considering where all those people would fit, that kind of overload is way beyond the braking and handling capacity of the vehicle. Springs, axles and tires fail catastrophically under those conditions, especially when hitting the gas hard such as when trying to cross a highway with high speed cross traffic.

Very tragic

Codifer

(759 posts)
14. Years ago
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 03:57 PM
Mar 2021

I worked with Caltrans District 11. The area where this accident occurred was (and still is) a "blood alley". There were many such places, usually two lane highways, across the state but most were improved years ago. This area near El Centro has always been dangerous. Many multiple fatality accidents have occurred there and almost always involved vans carrying farm workers. Highest I remember (sort of) from those days was eight or eleven deaths. One could suppose that a larger vehicle, a bus maybe, could have been used but money.

This area is the source of much of our food and that food is harvested by.... well you know.

 

alphafemale

(18,497 posts)
15. I read that they take out the seats and people crouch jammed together on the floor.
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 04:52 PM
Mar 2021

The desperation is heartbreaking.

Roc2020

(1,703 posts)
17. the emotional and sometimes
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 06:00 PM
Mar 2021

physical trauma pain and abuse people are desperate to get away from is simply heartbreaking

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