Executive Summary
- Two passengers died in a wrong-way crash on I-19 caused by a suspect fleeing Border Patrol.
- Adolfo Hernandez Salazar faces two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated assault.
- The collision occurred during a human trafficking investigation in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), two individuals were killed and two others sustained serious injuries in a wrong-way collision on Interstate 19 in Santa Cruz County, stemming from a human trafficking investigation involving U.S. Border Patrol agents.
The fatal incident occurred on January 22 near kilometer 11. Authorities report that the driver of the suspect vehicle, identified as Adolfo Hernandez Salazar, was fleeing federal agents when he drove into oncoming traffic on the southbound lanes. This reckless maneuver resulted in a head-on collision with an unsuspecting motorist.
DPS officials confirmed that two passengers inside Salazar’s vehicle were pronounced dead as a result of the impact. A third passenger in the suspect vehicle and the driver of the victim vehicle both suffered serious injuries. Following the crash, law enforcement stated that Salazar attempted to flee the scene on foot but was quickly apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Salazar was treated for non-life-threatening injuries before being booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on January 23. Court filings indicate he faces serious charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
Investigative Outlook
State investigators are currently working to identify the victims and notify their next of kin. This tragedy underscores the extreme danger posed to the motoring public by high-speed evasion tactics often employed during human smuggling operations near the border. As the Arizona Department of Public Safety continues its reconstruction of the crash, the judicial process for the accused will commence. It is important to note that all individuals, including Mr. Salazar, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
