A Texas man accused of mowing down a group of pedestrians with his SUV near a homeless shelter that attends to migrants was charged on Monday with eight counts of manslaughter.
Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said during a news conference that the driver, identified as George Alvarez, 34, ran a red light, lost control of his vehicle and hit 18 people.
Responding to a question from a reporter, Sauceda said investigators have not ruled out that the crash was intentional.
He also said that investigators were waiting for toxicology reports.
The driver attempted to flee the scene after impact but was held down by several bystanders, Sauceda said.
Alvarez, who was also charged with 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, has an extensive criminal history, the chief said. He was being held on $3.6 million.
The city of Brownsville, on the border with Mexico, is one of the places expecting an influx of migrants when COVID-era restrictions under Title 42 expire on Thursday.
Russian strikes kill 20, exposing Ukraine's air-defence shortage
Clashes escalate at Sri Lanka prison to leave 25 dead, many more injured
Six killed in India's Mumbai as rains wreak havoc, disrupt travel
Wildfire in southern France forces 10,000 people from their homes
Folarin Balogun to play for US after FIFA suspends red-card ban
Arab League condemns Israeli demolition of entire neighborhood in Lebanon
Eight killed in landslides at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh
Venezuela quake death toll nears 3,000 as rescue effort winds down
