2021 Imperial County car crash

Imperial County car crash
	Crash site Crash site (southern California) Crash site Crash site (California) Crash site Crash site (the United States)
Date	March 2, 2021
Time	~6:15 a.m. PST
Location	Imperial County, California, U.S.
Deaths	13
Non-fatal injuries	13

On March 2, 2021, an SUV carrying 25 people collided with a semi-trailer truck in Imperial County, California, U.S., killing 13 people. Investigators said the SUV had entered the United States from Mexico through a hole in a border fence and was smuggling migrants at the time of the crash.

Background

The Ford Expedition, as found at the crash site, had the middle and rear seats removed, and could only safely seat six people despite carrying 25 people.^[2]

Crash

In the early morning of March 2, 2021, a red 1997 Ford Expedition carrying 25 passengers and originating from Mexico, having entered the United States through a hole in the border fence,^[3] was traveling westbound on Norrish Road in Imperial County, California. It entered an intersection, where a semi-trailer truck travelling north on the other road, State Route 115, crashed into the side of it, killing 13 people and injuring 13.^[1] According to authorities, the SUV ran the stop sign and drove in the path of the truck.^[3] The occupants of the SUV entered the United States in an unauthorized manner.^[4] The truck was carrying gravel cargo, and was owned by a company called Haven & Sons.^[5]

Aftermath

The accident closed all lanes in both directions of SR-115,^[6] and the National Transportation Safety Board announced an investigation into the crash.^[7] The US Department of Homeland Security stated that the vehicle was part of an illegal migrant smuggling operation.^[3]^[8] In March 2023, Jose Cruz Noguez pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to bring in undocumented migrants and three counts of bringing in undocumented migrants for financial gain in connection with the crash;^[9] he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b Toropin, Konstantin; Chan, Stella; Levenson, Eric; Meeks, Alexandra (March 3, 2021). "More than a dozen dead in crash involving SUV and semitruck in California near US-Mexico border". CNN. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
^ Hauck, Grace; Atagi, Colin; Hayes, Christal (March 2, 2021). "'Very sad': At least 13 dead after truck slams into SUV carrying 25 near U.S.-Mexico border". USA Today. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Musumeci, Natalie (March 3, 2021). "SUV in deadly California wreck came through hole in border fence". New York Post. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
^ "After deadly Imperial County crash, what about the hole in the border fence? - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
^ Brown, Richard Montenegro (March 2, 2021). "'Gruesome' Holtville Wreck Tied to Smuggling: Report". Calexico Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
^ Caltrans San Diego [@SDCaltrans] (March 2, 2021). "#ImperialValley All lanes of NB & SB SR-115 at Norrish Rd closed due to a traffic collision" (Tweet). Retrieved March 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
^ Shepardson, David (March 2, 2021). Adler, Leslie (ed.). "U.S. safety board to probe California highway crash that killed 13". Reuters. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
^ "Suspected migrant smuggler charged in connection with Imperial County crash that killed 13". KTLA. March 31, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
^ Morales, Julio (March 22, 2023). "Mexicali Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Holtville Crash". Calexico Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
^ "Organizer sentenced to 15 years for migrant smuggling attempt that led to 13 dead in crash". San Diego Union-Tribune. July 13, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

32°49′58″N 115°24′22″W / 32.83273°N 115.40614°W / 32.83273; -115.40614

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[CNN-1] Toropin, Konstantin; Chan, Stella; Levenson, Eric; Meeks, Alexandra (March 3, 2021). "More than a dozen dead in crash involving SUV and semitruck in California near US-Mexico border". CNN. Retrieved March 2, 2021.

[U-2] Hauck, Grace; Atagi, Colin; Hayes, Christal (March 2, 2021). "'Very sad': At least 13 dead after truck slams into SUV carrying 25 near U.S.-Mexico border". USA Today. Retrieved March 2, 2021.

[:0-3] Musumeci, Natalie (March 3, 2021). "SUV in deadly California wreck came through hole in border fence". New York Post. Retrieved July 16, 2023.

[4] "After deadly Imperial County crash, what about the hole in the border fence? - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

[5] Brown, Richard Montenegro (March 2, 2021). "'Gruesome' Holtville Wreck Tied to Smuggling: Report". Calexico Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2023.

[6] Caltrans San Diego [@SDCaltrans] (March 2, 2021). "#ImperialValley All lanes of NB & SB SR-115 at Norrish Rd closed due to a traffic collision" (Tweet). Retrieved March 2, 2021 – via Twitter.

[7] Shepardson, David (March 2, 2021). Adler, Leslie (ed.). "U.S. safety board to probe California highway crash that killed 13". Reuters. Retrieved March 2, 2021.

[8] "Suspected migrant smuggler charged in connection with Imperial County crash that killed 13". KTLA. March 31, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.

[9] Morales, Julio (March 22, 2023). "Mexicali Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Holtville Crash". Calexico Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2023.

[10] "Organizer sentenced to 15 years for migrant smuggling attempt that led to 13 dead in crash". San Diego Union-Tribune. July 13, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

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v t e Road incidents in 2021
Jan, 27: Dschang (bus) Feb, 4: Kilmarnock (3 incidents) Feb, 11: Fort Worth (133 vehicles) Feb, 16: Sidhi (bus) Feb, 26: Asafo-Akyem (bus) Mar, 2: Imperial County (car) Mar, 2: Colomi (bus) May, 3: Mexico City (metro) November, 7: Mexico (truck) November, 23: Bulgaria (bus) November 26, Mexico (bus) December 9, Mexico (truck)
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