2 dozen suspected illegal immigrants injured in traffic accident in Austria

A van transporting suspected illegal immigrants in a purported case of human smuggling overturned Friday in northeastern Austria, leaving at least 24 people injured, local media reported Saturday.

The incident occurred Friday morning on a motorway in the state of Lower Austria, when one of the tires of the van with at least 32 people on board allegedly burst, causing the vehicle to skid, crash into a railing and fall onto its side.

Many of the suspected illegal immigrants made their way out onto the motorway following the incident, while the smuggler fled the scene of the incident.

Three people were seriously injured and the police did not rule out the possibility that some of the suspected illegal immigrants who had fled were also injured.