An accident occurred earlier yesterday in Victoria County when a bus transporting immigration detainees collided with an 18-wheeler. The Victoria County Sheriff’s Office reported to a call about the crash at around 7:30 a.m. which took place in the 4400 block of US 77. The bus was en route to Laredo with 19 detainees and three guards from the GEO group at the time of the incident.
According to information obtained from Click2Houston, the bus missed its exit and braked suddenly as it approached another, leading to the following 18-wheeler to jackknife and collide with the rear of the bus. The drivers of an 18-wheeler was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision. Emergency Medical Services transported nine of the injured detainees to DeTar and Citizens Medical Center, while the other 10 were taken to the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office to await an alternate transport.
One detainee was severely injured, being pinned inside the bus by the legs, as reported by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Another sustained multiple injuries including two broken legs and a broken nose and is scheduled for surgery. As per KHOU, an additional individual was taken from the scene in critical condition and is currently undergoing hospital treatment. The current health status of the other detainees has not been disclosed.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, led by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Multiple agencies responded to both the site of the crash and the hospital to provide assistance. While the investigation proceeds, no citations have been issued at this time. This incident shines a light on the unexpected dangers that can beset those in the immigration detention system, even when the threat does not emerge from the system itself, but from the unpredictable menace of the road.
