On May 8th, 2023, a Range Rover SUV crashed into a group of people waiting at a bus stop outside a migrant center in Brownsville, Texas, killing eight and injuring 12 others. The driver, George Alvarez, was charged with eight counts of manslaughter and ten counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police are investigating whether the crash was intentional, but believe that Alvarez lost control of the car after running a red light. Officials are awaiting toxicology reports to determine if Alvarez was intoxicated at the time of the incident.
George Alvarez has a criminal history that includes charges of aggravated assault, theft, and drug possession. He had also been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence. The authorities have not yet confirmed whether Alvarez was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the time of the accident.
The victims of the accident were all male, and several of them were from Venezuela. They were waiting for the bus to return to downtown Brownsville after spending the night at the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center, which is the only overnight shelter in the city and manages the release of thousands of migrants from federal custody.
Surveillance footage from the center showed some of the victims sitting on the curb when they were hit at the bus stop. Witnesses reported that Alvarez was cursing at them, but police have not confirmed that yet.
The Brownsville community is mourning the loss of these eight individuals, and officials are praying for the injured and their families. The Ozanam center remains at capacity, and there are plans to expand the number of sleeping spaces from 250 to 380 per night. Migrants are free to seek employment during the day to pay for their bus fare or plane tickets, which can cost hundreds of dollars.
