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3 Illegal Immigrants Drown In Canal
POSTED: 8:18 am MST March 7,
2009
UPDATED: 10:58 am MST March 7,
2009
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. -- Three illegal immigrants trying to flee Pinal County authorities have drowned in a canal near Casa Grande, Pinal County authorities said.The county sheriff's office said deputies rescued four other people from the Maricopa/Stanfield Irrigation District canal about three miles south of Interstate 8 and Trekell Road in an unincorporated area of Casa Grande.Deputy Russell Warren spotted a vehicle with its headlights turned off traveling on Interstate 8 about 6 a.m. Friday and a high-speed chase ensued, investigators said.The vehicle stopped near the canal and Warren said he saw several people flee.The deputy said he heard yelling coming from the canal and noticed several people in the water who appeared to be unable to swim.Warren said he removed his duty gear and jumped into the canal in an attempt to save the victims. He was able to retrieve one person who had gone under the water and pulled him to the water edge, where a second deputy had arrived and assisted them out of the water.The second deputy then threw one end of a pair of jumper cables into the canal to save another victim. Two additional victims were able to hold on to the side of the canal, where the second deputy and his supervisor were able to assist them out of the water, investigators said.Pinal County Search and Rescue Coordinators immediately started working with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Dive Team and Maricopa/Stanfield Irrigation District in an effort to recover the bodies of the victims.Due to the speed of the flow of the water, the undercurrent and the proximity of the incident to the canal gate, dive team members were not able to safely enter the water, deputies said."With no one on the bank and the undercurrent in the water, we are very fortunate that Dep. Warren was able to save as many victims as he did and that he is safe," Sgt. Brian Messing said.Emergency aid was rendered and the rescued victims as well as five additional illegal immigrants were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.
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