By Daniel Borunda
The El Paso Times
EL PASO, Texas — Two people died and five others were hospitalized when a sport utility vehicle rolled several times Thursday evening on Interstate 10 at the western edge of El Paso.
The bodies of a man and a girl lay covered with white sheets next to the road where they died, a few feet from the twisted metal of a dark gray Ford Excursion.
The westbound freeway lanes remained closed late Thursday while El Paso police continued to investigate.
About 6 p.m., the westbound Excursion was carrying seven people when for unknown reasons the driver lost control and the SUV rolled several times, said Officer Chris Mears, an El Paso police spokesman.
“Five people were ejected; tragically, two died,” Mears said.
The five survivors were taken to Thomason Hospital and Beaumont Army Medical Center in unknown conditions.
The names of the dead and injured were not immediately available.
Mears said he did not know what state license plate was on the SUV. From a distance, the plate appeared to be from New Mexico.
Traffic investigators were taking measurements, and floodlights were prepared as the sun set. The crash, described as “horrible” by a sheriff’s deputy, caused a large emergency response. Sheriff’s deputies, Border Patrol agents and constable deputies helped direct traffic soon after the crash. At least five ambulances were rushed to the scene.
The accident occurred on I-10 between Trans Mountain and Vinton roads, which is about a mile from El Paso city limits, police said.
It did not appear that other vehicles were involved.
The crash closed the westbound lanes for hours, backing up traffic beyond Trans Mountain.
Motorists headed west on the freeway were diverted to the access road. The eastbound lanes remained open.
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