In a tragic incident reminiscent of a 2021 California crash involving a vehicle carrying two dozen undocumented immigrants, a man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a deadly smuggling operation. Jose Cruz Noguez admitted to coordinating the ill-fated journey that ended with a fatal collision between a packed Ford Expedition and a tractor-trailer near Holtville, California, on March 2, 2021. Thirteen lives were lost in the devastating crash, marking it as one of the deadliest incidents connected to human smuggling in the United States.
Prosecutors revealed that Cruz Noguez not only orchestrated the trip but also oversaw the modification of the Ford Expedition and a GMC Yukon. Seats were removed from both vehicles to maximize the number of people that could be crammed inside. He also personally surveyed the route north of the border to ensure it was clear of law enforcement. At least 24 individuals were squeezed into the Expedition, while another 19 were packed into the Yukon. To facilitate their illegal entry, a portion of the border fence was dismantled.
Shortly after crossing the border, the Yukon caught fire, prompting the driver to abandon the vehicle. The Expedition, however, continued on Interstate 8 towards Holtville. The fatal collision occurred just outside the town. Emergency responders arrived to a horrific scene with passengers attempting to escape the wreckage and others wandering disoriented in nearby fields. The impact of the crash had crushed the left side of the SUV, and the tractor-trailer's two empty trailers were jackknifed behind it.
The passengers in the Expedition ranged in age from 15 to 53 and suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe, including fractures and head trauma. The driver of the Expedition, who was from Mexicali, Mexico, was among the deceased. The 68-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer, a resident of nearby El Centro, California, sustained moderate injuries. The crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. under clear skies at an intersection just outside Holtville, approximately 11 miles north of the border. According to authorities, the tractor-trailer was traveling north on the highway when the Expedition pulled in front of it from a road with a stop sign.
Adding to the tragedy, Cruz Noguez attempted to collect payment for the smuggling operation from the survivors. U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman condemned Cruz Noguez's actions, stating that he and his co-conspirators treated the individuals involved "like a worthless commodity." The area where the crash took place has become a major route for illegal border crossings since increased enforcement in San Diego in the late 1990s pushed migrants towards more remote areas. A poignant reminder of the risks involved, a cemetery with unmarked graves for migrants who died crossing the border is located less than a mile from the crash site.
