Diocese of Victoria experiences immigrant tragedy

For the second time in nine years, the Diocese of Victoria in Texas has become the site of an immigrant tragedy of large proportions. 

Southwest of Goliad, nearly at the edge of the border of the Victoria Diocese with the Diocese of Corpus Christi, at approximately 6:30 p.m., July 22, 2012, a 2000 Ford 250 extended cab pickup carrying 23 people, lost the tread of its right front wheel causing the driver to veer to the right and crash into two large trees, according to Goliad County DPS Trooper Gerald Bryant. 

As the speed limit in the area is 75 mph, it is estimated the vehicle was traveling at least that fast, reported DPS Lt. Glen Garrett to The Victoria Advocate, the newspaper of Victoria, Texas.

It has now been confirmed by Gregory Palmore, Office of Public Affairs - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), that all 23 people had originated from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, and are suspected to be illegal immigrants.  The driver, who was killed, was the only Mexican resident, according to a statement made by Victor Corzo, of the Mexican Consulate, to The Victoria Advocate.

In a video interview with The Victoria Advocate newspaper, Trooper Bryant stated that there were 11 fatalities at the scene; six of those who were killed were inside the vehicle and five were ejected from the vehicle. Twelve of the injured were transported to different hospitals; four injured were transported to Beeville by ambulance, another four went to Victoria DeTar Hospital by ambulance, and four were life flighted by helicopters to area hospitals including hospitals in San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Three of those transported to hospitals later died, bringing the total dead to 15 as of Tuesday evening.

Men, women and children were among the 15 people who died.  Mr. Palmore reported that 12 were male and three were female. 

Adrian Fulton of the Victoria Mortuary and Cremation Service, where 11 of the deceased are being held, told Cynthia Brewer of The Catholic Lighthouse, he has received more than 1,000 calls regarding the victims’ possible identities, but that none of them have yet been identified.  The dead range between the ages of eight and 25 or 30 years; two of those dead are girls about eight and 10 years of age, he said.

Since this initial interview, Jennifer Preyss of The Victoria Advocate has reported that 14 have been identified, six of those are alive and eight are dead. Nine remain unidentified.

Mr. Fulton has asked that if anyone might know the victims, please e-mail complete names, dates of birth, and a general description of the person they are trying to locate, as well as their contact information, to him at [email protected] or contact the Goliad County Sheriff’s office at (361) 645-3451.

A Mass and prayers for the dead and injured migrants was held on Tuesday, July 24, at 7:00 p.m. at Santisima Trinidad Church, 2901 Pleasant Green St., Victoria.  Father Stan DeBoe, O.SS.T., pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, was the main celebrant.

Rev. John Peters, Vicar General of the Diocese of Victoria, has sent out, via the diocesan Website at www.victoriadiocese.org, a message of condolence for all those involved in the accident:

“All of us, in the Catholic Diocese of Victoria, express our deepest sympathy to the victims, and their families, in the recent horrific traffic accident.  We also lift our hearts and prayers to God, for those who have died in this tragedy.  All of us, regardless of nationality, race, creed or culture, are united in faith as brothers and sisters.  Therefore, we join together in prayer to our loving God for strength and healing.”

Nine years ago, on May 14, 2003, Victoria was the site of the deadliest human trafficking case in U.S. history.  Over 70 immigrants were found abandoned in a tractor-trailer a few miles outside of Victoria, Texas, alongside U.S. Hwy. 77 S.  Nineteen immigrants had died from dehydration, hypothermia and suffocation, while 55 survived the suffocating conditions in the airless trailer.