At least seven migrants killed after driver crashed into group | US News

Seven migrants have died after a car drove into a bus stop across from a Texas homeless shelter.

Victor Maldonado, director of the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center in the city of Brownsville, said the shelter’s surveillance video showed a group of people sitting on a nearby curb around 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday.

He explained: “This SUV, a Range Rover, just drove the light that was about 100 feet away and just drove through the people who were sitting there at the bus stop.”

Mr. Maldonado added that most of the victims were Venezuelan men.

He said the car overturned after climbing the sidewalk and traveled another 200 feet before coming to a stop.

The New York Times quoted Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. of Cameron County as saying it is currently unclear whether the driver intentionally hit the group or if they simply lost control of the vehicle.

He added that the driver was taken to hospital along with 11 others.

The Brownsville Police Department says the driver was arrested at the scene by witnesses and tested for intoxication.

The condition of the patient is currently unknown.

Judge Trevino described the scene as “very graphic”.

He said the injuries looked “very serious”, adding: “It’s a tragedy either way, but if it was intentional then it’s worse.”

Police have confirmed that investigators are at the scene of a major incident and that roads in the area have been cordoned off.

The Texas border city is a key transit point for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, with the Ozanam Center its only overnight shelter, managing the release of thousands of migrants from federal custody.

Director Mr Maldonado said the center received no threats prior to the incident but intimidating statements were made in the hours that followed.

He said: “I had a couple of people come to the gate and told the security guard that the reason it happened was because of us.”

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