Teen Faces Murder Charges in Crash That Killed 9

Boy may be tried as an adult

A 15-year-old South Texas boy has been charged with nine counts of murder among other charges after a van he was driving crashed, killing nine of the suspected illegal immigrants packed inside.

The boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, appeared at a probable cause hearing Monday.

He was also charged with 17 counts of smuggling a person and causing serious bodily harm including death and one count of evading.

Palmview Police Chief Chris Barrera said the boy, a U.S. citizen from Hidalgo County, said this morning he drove the van because his family had been threatened.

Barrera said prosecutors would decide whether to try the boy as an adult.

The nine killed in the rollover crash last Tuesday were all Mexican citizens.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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