An investigation is underway into possible human smuggling in connection with the deadly crash Tuesday in Imperial County that left 13 people dead.
The CHP says a Ford Expedition packed with 25 people was broadsided by a big rig near Holtville, killing the driver and 12 passengers. This happened about n10 miles north of the Mexican border.
Officers say the seats of the 1997 Expedition had been removed. The AP reported that the ICE investigators were looking into it being a possible human smuggling attempt..
The deadly collision between the SUV and truck carrying gravel happened at around 6:15 a.m. at the intersection of state Route 115 and Norrish Road in Holtville. The driver of the truck, who is 69-year-old, was not seriously injured. The CHP says 12 people died at the scene, with another victim dying by the time they got to a hospital. Six of the people most seriously injured were transferred to San Diego-area hospitals for treatment -- four were airlifted to UC San Diego Medical Center and two were taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital.
WATCH CHP briefing below.
(Photo reporting partner 10News)