Hourly Update

State: Tire spikes not to blame for fatal Sierra Vista crash

Tire spikes used to stop a truckload of illegal immigrants in Sierra Vista did not cause the rollover crash that killed five people and injured more than 25 others in October, Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say. An accident report shows the driver was at fault in the crash on Arizona 90 at the Buffalo Soldier Trail intersection, said Officer Frank Valenzuela, a department spokesman. The department was never asked to look into whether the spike strips that were placed by the Sierra Vista Police Department impacted the accident, he said, and the department doesn't plan to investigate that aspect of the crash. A DPS criminal report and a reconstruction supplement to the accident report, which have not yet been released, may make references to the spike strips, Valenzuela said. During the accident Oct. 16, the truck sped from law enforcement and crashed into cars in a turn lane at the intersection. The truck was carrying 18 illegal border crossers. Five people were killed and a pregnant woman lost her baby. Some of the injured criticized the police tactic of using spike strips, saying the speeding driver may have swerved into the median and turn lane to avoid the spikes. Federal charges have been brought against several men in the truck who are accused of people smuggling.