Migrant smuggler gets life for deadly U.S. crash

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A Mexican smuggler responsible for an accident that killed 10 illegal immigrants in the Arizona desert two years ago was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison.

Adan Pineda-Doval, 22, received the maximum sentence from Judge Stephen McNamee for the deadly incident in which he flipped over a vehicle packed with illegal immigrants while trying to flee Border Patrol agents near Yuma, Arizona.

In October, Pineda-Doval was convicted of 10 counts of transporting illegal immigrants resulting in death, one count of placing lives in jeopardy and one count of re-entry after deportation.

"This incident speaks to the risk that alien smugglers create pursuing money and protecting their own freedom over the safety of their human cargo," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Koehler told Reuters.

Koehler said he hoped the stiff sentence would serve as a deterrent for other so-called "coyotes" attempting to smuggle people across the U.S.-Mexican border.

"Hopefully the sentence in this case will persuade others who engage in this conduct to stop when the Border Patrol signals them to do so," he said.

Authorities said Pineda-Doval was driving on a dirt road in a Chevrolet Suburban crammed with 20 illegal immigrants on August 7, 2006, when he raised the suspicion of a Border Patrol agent who tried to get him to stop.

Despite the urging of his passengers, authorities said Pineda-Doval continued to flee, swerving and accelerating past a tire deflation device. The vehicle flipped several times, ejecting many of the occupants.

Five passengers were reported dead at the scene, including a pregnant 17-year-old girl. Five others died later at a local hospital. Several people were injured.

Authorities said Pineda-Doval initially lied and said he was a passenger, not the driver. They said he only admitted it after witnesses pegged him as the driver.

Vehicle accidents involving illegal immigrants have become common in recent years in Arizona as smugglers try to outrun or avoid agents patrolling the border.

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