May 7 (Reuters) – At least seven pedestrians were killed and several others injured when an SUV plowed into people on Sunday near a homeless shelter that treats immigrants in Brownsville, Texas, police said.
The male driver was taken into custody, and Lt. Martin Sandoval of the Brownsville Police Department said he was charged with reckless driving and could face additional charges.
Sandoval said victims of the morning crash were waiting at a bus stop near the Ozanam Center, a homeless shelter used by immigrants. He said some of the dead were migrants.
“We are investigating the intoxication patterns to determine if he was intoxicated at the time of the accident,” Sandoval told Fox News.
[1/3] Law enforcement officers are investigating the scene after a fatal car crash into pedestrians near the Osanam Center, a shelter for immigrants and the homeless, in Brownsville, Texas. /Photo taken on May 7, 2023/REUTERS/John Faulk
It was unclear whether the driver intentionally hit the group or lost control of the vehicle, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
There were no immediate details on how many people were injured or their condition.
The city of Brownsville, on the border with Mexico, is one of the places expected to see an influx of immigrants when Covid-era restrictions under Title 42 expire Thursday.
A video circulating online showing the crash shows a speeding SUV plowing into people sitting on the curb. A second video of the aftermath appears to show victims lying on the ground, some bloody and writhing, others lying motionless.
Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.
Report by John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Lisa Schumacher
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