Austin man charged in head-on crash that killed 8 crossing Mexican border illegally

An Austin man is now facing criminal charges after driving Mexican migrants into a deadly head-on crash following a lengthy police chase near the Texas border on Monday.

Sebastian Tovar has been charged with "transporting illegal aliens resulting in death," U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden wrote.

When the Texas Department of Public Safety officer tried to pull 24-year old Tovar over for speeding near Del Rio, Texas, he refused and took off on Highway 277.

After a 50-mile police pursuit that saw speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, Tovar drove head-on into a pickup, killing eight of the migrants he had in tow.

While eight were killed in Tovar's maroon pickup, the driver and passenger in the other truck involved in the crash were hospitalized and are in stable condition.

In the same area as the crash, U.S. Border Patrol agents also apprehended 12 undocumented migrants who jumped out of a beige pickup truck and fled.

Both Tovar and the beige truck were collaborating to transport about 20 people across the Mexican border around Eagle Pass, according to two Mexican citizens who were taken into police custody.

Tovar, who is now in federal custody, could face up to life in prison.