SONOITA, — A tire blowout is believed to have caused or contributed to a rollover accident of an immigrant smuggling vehicle that killed eight people and injured several others in southern Arizona.
Police suspect the blowout was caused by the weight of the 27 people crammed inside the Ford Excursion.
Even though authorities said the blowout may have caused the wreck, investigators haven’t yet determined the official cause of Saturday’s rollover about 40 miles southeast of Tucson.
All of the vehicle’s occupants were believed to be illegal immigrants.
Four of the 19 survivors were in critical condition. Eight others were treated, released and in the custody of the Border Patrol. The conditions of the remaining survivors was unavailable.
