An Austin man has been handed a 16-year sentence for a smuggling attempt gone wrong, fatally ending in the deaths of two migrants, according to officials with the U.S. Department of Justice. Joseph Alex Hernandez, aged 27, was reported to have tried to outpace law enforcement at perilous speeds upwards of 100 mph before a tire blowout led to a catastrophic crash. The tragic incident occurred on April 24, 2022, and Hernandez faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, according to KXAN.
Details from a KXAN report paint a scene of chaos as Hernandez, in an attempt to quickly evade a traffic stop, lost control of his vehicle which flipped multiple times. The smuggling attempt abruptly ended in violence and despair, resulting in numerous injuries and the eventual passing of two undocumented immigrants. Hernandez, who pleaded guilty to the charges on October 23, 2023, was sentenced in a San Antonio federal court.
The smuggled individuals—13 undocumented noncitizens—were packed into Hernandez’s vehicle at the time of the chase, as mentioned in the report by the DOJ. Following the crash, emergency medical services had to airlift three passengers from the scene, while others were rushed to local hospitals by ambulance. Amongst the wreckage and human suffering, law enforcement officials found that Hernandez was also unlawfully in possession of a firearm, a charge that added to his legal woes.
In response to the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza highlighted the perils of human smuggling across the border. “This case is another unfortunate and tragic example of how dangerous smuggling humans across the border has become,” he said, as reported by FOX7 Austin. He further lamented the fact that Hernandez chose to put numerous lives in jeopardy, which tragically cost two individuals theirs.
