Investigators said the SUV had entered the United States from Mexico through a hole in a border fence and was smuggling migrants at the time of the crash.

[2] In the early morning of March 2, 2021, a red 1997 Ford Expedition carrying 25 passengers and originating from Mexico, having entered the United States through a hole in the border fence,[3] was traveling westbound on Norrish Road in Imperial County, California.

It entered an intersection, where a semi-trailer truck travelling north on the other road, State Route 115, crashed into the side of it, killing 13 people and injuring 13.

[5] The accident closed all lanes in both directions of SR-115,[6] and the National Transportation Safety Board announced an investigation into the crash.

[7] The US Department of Homeland Security stated that the vehicle was part of an illegal migrant smuggling operation.