Trial begins for suspect in migrant bus stop crash

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Witnesses were brought to the stand Tuesday morning in the trial for a man accused of killing eight migrants and injuring 10 others in a 2023 crash.

First responders took the stand Tuesday to detail the first moments on scene when George Alvarez allegedly drove into a crowd of people on May 7, 2023 in front of the Ozanam Center. 

Officers displayed body cam footage of the carnage that resulted after Alvarez ran a red light, lost control of his gray SUV, flipped and hit 18 people who were standing outside, according to police.

The footage from the scene shows the first officer on scene stopping by bodies to check for pulses and pronouncing victims dead.

During the trial, Alvarez admitted guilt to the jury regarding the killing. However, he stated he was not intoxicated at the time of the crash.

The first witness to take the stand is the lead investigator in the case, who stated he did not conduct a field sobriety test on Alvarez. He stated he did not smell alcohol on his person.

In his opening statement Tuesday, Alvarez's attorney Cesar De Leon said his defendant "blacked out" before the crash and did not recall crashing. He stated Alvarez attempted to avoid hitting a car and people.

His attorney stated Alvarez suffered two broken ribs from the beating that witnesses of the crash gave him.

One of the officers who took the stand described the crowd as "definitely hostile."

Alvarez's attorney argued that his intoxicated demeanor was a result of the beating he endured by witnesses of the crash.

In August 2023, police released an update stating that a partial toxicology report showed that Alvarez was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. State lab results, which would show the presence of drugs, were still pending.

In his opening testimony, De Leon stated Alvarez had cocaine in his system from Thursday, three days before the crash.

Alvarez was indicted on 26 charges; eight counts of manslaughter, seven counts of intoxication manslaughter, 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of intoxication assault.