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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Alana J. Shacter, MPH, Division of Epidemiology and Vital Statistics, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 4041 N Central Ave., Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85012, 520-904-2201, ashacter@email.arizona.edu

Background: Multi-casualty vehicle collisions stress local and regional medical systems, yet epidemiology has barely examined this phenomenon as applied to smuggled migrants in border regions despite a fair level of media coverage. This research lays the groundwork for further study of these preventable traumas. Methods: I created a database that considers event- and vehicle-specific factors for collisions among vehicles overloaded with purportedly illegal immigrants. Using records culled from local newspapers, I gathered information on collisions. Results: A total of approximately 75 events were recorded; they date from 1996 to the present. Because smaller crashes may go unnoticed by the local media, these collisions may be underreported. Though this research is preliminary, current figures suggest several trends, including an increase in crashes, followed by a sharp decrease suggesting the effectiveness of recent border control efforts. Additionally, the data collected to this point represents news provided openly to the public, leading to discrepancies between public and federal reporting. Collisions are occurring beyond major arterial and collector roads, creating incidents that are less accessible to first responders. This change may represent an attempt by smugglers to find less heavily patrolled routes in response to the 2004 Arizona Border Control initiative. Conclusions: As this presentation represents a midpoint in my research, further study is needed, especially in obtaining other reporting sources. This research provides the first step in assessing the burden placed upon local first responders, and moving towards better management of mass casualty events, especially in smaller communities that may have fewer resources.

Learning Objectives: After viewing this presentation, participants will be able to

• Understand the role of human trafficking by motor vehicle as a public health issue in the Southwest U.S.
• Understand the direct and indirect impact of motor vehicle collisions among vehicles overloaded with smuggled undocumented migrants on local and regional law enforcement, emergency medical systems, and attitudes towards immigration.
• Appreciate the number and scope of such collisions, as based on the first systematic survey of such events.

Keywords: Motor Vehicles, Immigration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered