GOLIAD -- A one-vehicle truck crash southwest of Goliad has claimed 14 lives -- including those of two little girls.
Early Monday morning, investigators were trying to figure out what caused the crash that led to the multiple fatalities.
A 2000 white Ford Super-Duty F-250 left the roadway early Sunday evening on Highway 59 in the rural community of Berclair, about 100 miles southeast of San Antonio. There were 23 people in the truck.
Eleven people were killed at the scene, including seven found dead inside the cab of the truck, including two young teenage girls. The bodies of five more victims were found outside the vehicle.
Medical helicopters and ambulances took 12 victims to hospitals in Corpus Christi, Victoria and San Antonio.
Three of those victims died at the hospital, bringing the total number dead to 14.
The victims are men, women and children who have not been identified. It's believed they are undocumented immigrants.
"A lot of times when illegals are transported into the United States this is a common way of them being transported...unfortunately," said Trooper Gerald Bryant.
Border patrol and ICE agents were assisting the investigation.
No one is sure where the truck was going or why this accident happened, but investigators said there are witnesses to the crash. The driver of the vehicle is still alive, they said.
The remaining victims are in hospitals in San Antonio and Victoria. Their conditions have not been released at this time.
Authorities had not yet determined whether anyone should be held criminally responsible for the crash.
