2 DPS smuggling pursuits lead to crashes hours apart in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Two separate crashes that happened hours apart on Wednesday morning, Oct. 2, near UTEP and on Transmountain resulted from human smuggling pursuits, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

DPS says the first crash happened at around 7 a.m. Wednesday after troopers assisting DPS special agents tried to stop a Chrysler 300 involved in human smuggling.

The Chrysler fled on Transmountain Road and the driver, who has been identified as Ever Orlando Marquez-Diaz, 23, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, failed to negotiate a curve and struck the vehicle crossover cable barrier, according to DPS.

The Chrysler then came to a stop and Marquez-Diaz was placed under arrest for smuggling of persons. Seven migrants were detained and released to U.S. Border Patrol. No injuries were sustained during this incident, according to DPS.

The second crash happened at around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after troopers assisting DPS Special Agents tried to stop another Chrysler 300 involved in human smuggling.

The Chrysler fled and led troopers in a short pursuit on I-10 that ended when the driver of the vehicle, Gavriela Batres-Ramos, 21, of Sunland Park, New Mexico, struck two other vehicles, according to DPS.

DPS says after crashing, Batres-Ramos fled on foot and was apprehended shortly after. Batres-Ramos was later booked into the El Paso County Jail and charged with smuggling of persons fleeing and evading in a motor vehicle.

There were seven migrants in the Chrysler that were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol. No injuries were sustained during this incident, according to DPS.

All lanes on I-10 East were closed as a result of the crash. However, lanes opened up later Wednesday morning, according to TxDOT’s traffic alerts.

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