7 Illegals on the Loose in Mertzon Following High-Speed Chase

MERTZON, TX — A vehicle that is suspected of hauling illegal aliens crashed and the illegal aliens fled the scene just before sundown Sunday. Possibly seven illegal aliens are on the loose, possibly in town. Mertzon is located southwest of San Angelo on US 67.

Mertzon Mayor Aubrey Stewart said he was not ready to identify the suspects as “illegal aliens” but said the Irion County Sheriff’s Office is searching for seven “suspects.” The bailout happened on the southwest side of the city near the metal “Welcome to Mertzon” sign, he said.

The incident happened when Irion County Sheriff’s deputies were in a high speed chase with the suspects’ blue Chevrolet pickup. The truck crashed, ending the chase.

Mayor Stewart told Mertzon residents to be vigilant until the seven suspects are apprehended. According to other sources, this is the second suspected illegal migrant “bail out” in a week. A previous incident happened Saturday night south of Barnhart, several miles southwest of Mertzon.

High speed chases involving human traffickers are a usual event in small towns across west Texas. Earlier this year, a chase ended in tragedy when a grandmother and granddaughter were killed in a violent collision with a trafficker running from the Crockett County Sheriff's Office.