By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
An April trial date has been set for an Austin man arrested in March 2021 following a motor vehicle collision north of Del Rio that killed eight immigrants.
The trial of Sebastian Tovar, who was 24 years old at the time of the fatal crash on March 15, 2021, is scheduled to begin April 19, according to documents on file in the U.S. District Court in Del Rio and reviewed by the 830 Times.
The criminal complaint in the case notes a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper attempted to stop a Dodge Ram pickup for a traffic violation near Del Rio on March 15, 2021.
“The Dodge Ram failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued. The Dodge Ram fled at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour for approximately 50 miles,” the complaint reads.
Just before 1:30 p.m. on March 15, 2021, the Dodge Ram was traveling on U.S. Highway 277 about 30 miles north of Del Rio when it “traveled into the opposing lane and struck a white Ford F-150 in a head-on collision.”
“The collision resulted in the deaths of eight passengers in the Dodge Ram, who were determined to be undocumented immigrants and illegally present in the United States,” the complaint reads.
Tovar, who was later identified as the driver of the maroon Dodge pickup, attempted to flee the scene of the fatal crash, but was quickly captured by a Border Patrol canine and its handler and arrested.
One passenger in the Dodge Ram, as well as the driver of the Ford F-150 and a passenger in the Ford, survived the collision and were transported to area hospitals for treatment.
“While at the scene (of the collision), Tovar made spontaneous utterances which implicated his involvement in the failed smuggling venture,” the criminal complaint reads.
The complaint also notes that Border Patrol agents assisting with traffic control near the scene of the deadly crash approached a tan Ford F-150 pickup to tell the driver to turn south on U.S. 277. When the agent approached the tan truck, all of its occupants jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot into the brushy ranch land along the highway.
All of the 12 occupants who attempted to flee were later captured, and two who were interviewed by investigators said they were part of a group of 20-plus undocumented immigrants who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally at Eagle Pass and were then divided between the maroon Dodge being driven by Tovar and the second vehicle, the tan Ford F-150.
Tovar was later indicted on one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, one count of illegal alien transportation resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury or placing lives in jeopardy, one count of illegal alien transportation resulting in serious bodily injury or placing lives in jeopardy and seven counts of transportation of illegal aliens.
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