At least five people were killed and several others hurt Sunday as an SUV carrying more than a dozen people during a suspected "smuggling event" crashed while fleeing from Border Patrol agents in South Texas, authorities said.
This frame grab from video provided by KABB/WOAI in San Antonio shows the scene on Texas Highway 85, where authorities say multiple people are dead and others hurt as an SUV carrying more than a dozen people crashed, Sunday, June 17, 2018, in Big Wells, Texas, while fleeing from Border Patrol agents. (Courtesy of KABB/WOAI via AP)
The SUV carrying 14 people went out of control at more than 100 mph and overturned on Texas Highway 85, ejecting most of the occupants, Dimmit County Sheriff Marion Boyd said.
"From what we can tell the vehicle ran off the road and caught gravel and then tried to recorrect," Boyd said, adding that "caused the vehicle to turn over several times."
Four victims were dead at the scene, Boyd said. He said at least one and possibly two others died at a hospital.
The Border Patrol said in a statement Sunday night that two other vehicles had been traveling alongside the SUV earlier in the day. An agent suspected they were conducting a "smuggling event," according to the statement, which did not elaborate.
In this image tweeted by David Caltabiano of KABB/WOAI, a heavily damaged SUV is seen on Texas Highway 85 in Big Wells, Texas, after crashing while carrying more than a dozen people fleeing from Border Patrol agents, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (David Caltabiano/KABB/WOAI via AP)
The border agent stopped one of the vehicles and another agent stopped a second one. Multiple people from both vehicles were arrested.
The third vehicle kept going when agents encountered it, and a sheriff's deputy took over the chase prior to the fatal crash, the border patrol said.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions over the treatment of immigrants at the southern border. The Trump administration has said tougher immigration policies — even separating children from their parents — are needed to deter immigrants from coming to the country illegally. Over a six-week period ending in May, about 2,000 children had been separated from their families, administration officials said Friday.
Most of the occupants in the SUV were believed in the country without legal permission. Boyd said the driver and one passenger were believed to be U.S. citizens. The driver was among those hospitalized, and a deputy who assisted the Border Patrol with the chase found the driver sitting upright in his seat and took him and the passenger into custody.
"This, I think, is a perfect example, of why are borders need to be secured," Boyd said.
Some injured were taken by helicopter to San Antonio, about 90 miles (144.83 kilometers) northeast. Dimmit County is directly north of Webb County and east of Maverick County, which border Mexico.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who died in the crash," The Border Patrol said in the statement.
Genesis, the spinoff luxury automaker from Hyundai, launched its GV80 midsize SUV in 2021. Noting its high-quality interior, supple ride over bumps, and generous complement of standard tech features, Edmunds immediately ranked it as one of the top models in its class. But how does the Genesis stack up against the latest competition? The popular Lexus RX was fully redesigned for 2023, bringing with it new powertrains and improved features. The auto experts at Edmunds compared the two SUVs to determine which one most deserves your money.
Two engines are available in the GV80: a 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder or a 375-horsepower turbocharged V6. Lexus goes for a broader lineup that includes four available powertrains, three of which are hybrids: the gas-only RX 350, the RX 350h hybrid, RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid and the RX 500h performance hybrid.
The base RX 350 packs a 275-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, while the top-line RX 500h has a hybrid powertrain good for 366 horsepower. Neither can quite match the power of the GV80, which Edmunds has found to be a little quicker in daily driving and for highway passing.
But there’s a big difference in fuel economy. The RX 350h gets up to an EPA-estimated 36 mpg in combined driving. Going with the plug-in 450h+ could get you even better mpg. Meanwhile, fuel economy for the GV80 is lackluster. The four-cylinder model checks in at an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined. Genesis doesn’t offer a hybrid GV80 at all.
Winner: Lexus RX
The GV80 stays reasonably well controlled when driving around corners. The real magic, however, is in the GV80’s ride quality. The suspension does an excellent job of softening bumps both big and small. Part of the reason it does such a good job is it knows what’s coming thanks to an available forward-mounted camera that reads the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension accordingly. Seat comfort is also exceptional, and the cabin is well isolated from road noise and vibrations.
Lexus vehicles have a well-earned reputation for providing a smooth ride, and the latest RX lives up to it. Additionally, the seats are comfortable and supportive and the interior is one of the quietest you’ll find. But head-to-head, the GV80 is just a bit better.
The GV80 also scores points for its roomier cargo area, higher maximum towing capacity and available third-row seat. That third row is small and only suitable for small children, but it can come in handy for those rare occasions when you need to take extra passengers along.
Winner: GV80
Both SUVs come well stocked with technology features. The GV80 comes standard with a 14.5-inch touchscreen with onboard navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. The RX has a 9.8-inch touchscreen standard with a 14-inch unit available on higher trims. One nice touch in the RX, however, is that you can connect your phone with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly; in the GV80, you need to use a USB cable.
RX pricing is also appealing. The least expensive RX in the lineup is the front-wheel-drive RX 350 that starts at about $50,000, including destination fees. Adding all-wheel drive is another $1,600. The GV80, which comes standard with all-wheel drive, starts at just over $59,000 for a four-cylinder 2.5T model. The RX’s lower starting price is a notable advantage, especially because both SUVs have a comparable set of initial standard features.
The price gap narrows at the more expensive models, however. For example, step up to the GV80 3.5T with its V6 engine and you’re looking at slightly more than $66,000 to start. The similarly powered RX 500h is around $64,000.
Genesis does offer the best warranty for a luxury brand, with five years/60,000 miles for basic coverage and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The RX comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the RX’s available hybrid powertrains.
Winner: tie
The Lexus RX will easily please shoppers looking for comfort, reasonable pricing and reputable build quality. In many ways, the latest version continues to be a class benchmark. But it’s the GV80, with its superior comfort, utility and distinctive style, that Edmunds’ experts find slightly more appealing overall.
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Alex Nishimoto is a contributor at Edmunds.
This photo provided by Genesis shows the GV80. The brand's midsize SUV, the GV80 stands out with its smooth ride quality, helpful technology features and available 375-horsepower V6 engine. (Courtesy of Genesis Motor North America via AP)
This photo provided by Lexus shows the RX 350h. A hybrid version of the RX, the 350h gets up to an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined with no compromises in overall luxury. (Courtesy of Lexus via AP)
