GOLIAD (Kiii News) -
The number of confirmed deaths from Sunday night's accident on Highway 59 has risen to 14.
The accident happened just before 7 p.m., when a Ford truck carrying 23 undocumented immigrants smashed into a tree about 10 miles south of Goliad. Nine people are still in the hospital. Investigators said they are all listed in serious to critical condition.
According to investigators, a Ford F-250 was going about 75-miles an hour when it smashed into a couple of trees. Department of Public Safety troopers said one of the front tires deflated, causing the driver to lose control.
Five to six people were inside the cab, and the rest were riding in the bed of the truck. Some of the victims were thrown as far as 50-60 feet.
Authorities were faced with the daunting task of identifying everyone involved on Monday. So far, only seven of the 23 have been identified.
"We're working with ICE also, and trying to identify all the occupants," said Lt. Glen Garrett with the Texas Department of Public Safety. "Not many of the occupants had ID on them, so it's a big task."
Investigators said the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, along with ten others. The driver was from Mexico. The majority of everyone else was from Guatemala.
The U.S. Border Patrol and ICE agents have been in contact with the consulate there in an effort to notify family members of the victims. There were some children inside the truck as well, but so far, the youngest identified victim is 16.
