An Austin man is facing some serious charges related to human smuggling.
Prosecutors say 24-year-old Sebastian Tovar of Austin was speeding in a maroon pickup near Del Rio on March 15th. A trooper tried tried to pull him over, but Tovar instead led the lawman on a 50 mile chase, reaching speeds of 100 miles an hour.
Tovar went north on Southbound 277 and hit a vehicle head on, killing eight illegal aliens that were in his truck.
Border patrol agents at the crash scene saw a beige pickup, and 12 people jumped out of the truck and fled. All were apprehended.
Four of the illegal aliens, all citizens of Mexico confirmed they were part of a human smuggling attempt and were divided between the two trucks.
The indictment charges Tovar with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, one count of transporting aliens resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of transporting illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury.
Tovar remains in federal custody. He faces life in federal prison upon conviction.