A vehicle rollover near Interstate 10 in Eloy left three people dead and another nine injured early Saturday morning, while the driver and one passenger fled on foot, authorities said.
The Department of Public Safety said the 14 people in the red Dodge Durango were likely illegal immigrants. Police have launched a criminal investigation because the driver fled while three of his passengers died at the scene.
The two who left the scene remained at large Saturday night.
It was unclear whether speed was a factor in the rollover because it is difficult to determine how fast vehicles are traveling in rollover crashes, DPS Sgt. Harold Sanders said.
Sanders said federal agents are assisting DPS in the investigation because the two who fled the scene are likely in the U.S. illegally.
