At least 15 people died in a vehicle crash in Imperial County, Calif., Tuesday, when a crowded SUV collided with a truck, according to hospital officials.
"We believe there [were] 27 passengers in this SUV that struck a semi-truck full of gravel," said Judy Cruz, managing director of the emergency department at the El Centro Regional Medical Center.
Fourteen people died at the scene of the crash, Cruz said, and another person died after they were taken to the hospital.
Nine people were transported to nearby hospitals, she said. Doctors want three patients to be air-lifted to other facilities for specialty care, Cruz added.
Imperial County is in southeastern California, sitting along the state's borders with Mexico and Arizona.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.9(MDI4ODU1ODA1MDE0ODA3MTMyMDY2MTJiNQ000))