Fleeing migrants in SUV led to Deming crash; 1 dead, 9 hurt

UPDATE, Sept. 22: DEMING, New Mexico — A group of migrants fleeing U.S. Border Patrol agents led to a deadly rollover crash along Highway 11 near Deming last weekend, federal authorities said in a statement Wednesday.

Officials with Customs and Border Protection said an SUV containing 10 migrants ran a checkpoint during the noon hour on Saturday and was pursued by agents; the fleeing driver eventually lost control of the vehicle and crashed near milepost 19.

The SUV overturned and caught fire, officials said, with some of the passengers being ejected and others trapped inside having to be rescued by border agents.

Authorities indicated a woman from Ecuador died at the scene while seven migrants were flown to University Medical Center in El Paso for treatment of serious injuries; two others with lesser injuries were treated at Mimbres Memorial Hospital in Deming.

ORIGINAL REPORT, Sept. 18: DEMING, New Mexico — New Mexico State Police said a rollover crash in the Deming area Saturday afternoon left at least one person dead and nine others injured.

The deadly one-vehicle crash happened on State Road 11 near milepost 19 north of Columbus.

Both north and southbound lanes were shutdown as investigators using drones scoured the crash scene.

Police said one crash victim died at the scene, two seriously injured were flown to University Medical Center in El Paso and seven were being treated at a Deming area hospital.

No further details were provided by authorities.