DEL RIO, Texas – A quick pretrial hearing took place in Del Rio Thursday morning for an Austin man accused in a deadly crash that killed eight undocumented immigrants.
Sebastian Tovar, 24, is charged with “transporting illegal aliens resulting in death” for the March 15 crash.
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Eight people died in the crash and three others suffered severe injuries.
According to the federal complaint, Tovar was traveling north on Highway 277 on Monday in a maroon pickup truck near Del Rio, Texas, when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper attempted to stop him for speeding. Following an approximately 50-mile pursuit that reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, Tovar collided head-on with another pickup.
Tovar appeared virtually in front of U.S. District Magistrate Judge Victor Garcia in Del Rio.
Garcia stated that since Tovar had recently obtained attorney Ray Meza that a bond hearing would take place no later than April 12th and as early as next week.
Until that bond hearing, Tovar will remain in custody.
If convicted of the charges, Tovar faces a sentence of up to life in prison or the death penalty.