On Monday, police in Brownsville, Texas, announced that they had charged a man with eight counts of manslaughter in connection with allegedly plowing down a group of pedestrians with an SUV.
According to Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda, George Alvarez, 34, was the driver who ran a red light, lost control of his SUV, and flipped it over, killing 18 people.
According to Sauceda, the motorist attempted to flee after the crash, but was held by multiple witnesses. The toxicological report on Alvarez, he says, is being anticipated.
According to Sauceda, detectives are still looking into the possibility that the event was planned.
According to the chief, several of the dead were Venezuelan migrants, and identification processes were beginning.
Sauceda said that “it has been a very tiresome process, but we are deeply committed to doing and accomplishing,” and that his department was cooperating with the Venezuelan government and other embassies.
The Venezuelan government demanded an investigation on Monday, claiming it was a hate crime driven by xenophobia.
Several border communities, notably Brownsville, Texas, expect a wave of migrants when the COVID period constraints are removed on Thursday.
According to the chief, Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history and has been charged with ten counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Alvarez’s bail was set at $3.6 million.
A video purportedly depicting the collision is making the rounds online, showing a speeding SUV colliding with a group of people waiting at the curb.
Another video seems to depict the aftermath, with individuals sprawled on the ground, some writhing in anguish and some seeming to be dead.
