SAN DIEGO -- Six people were killed and at least 31 others injured when the wrong-way driver of a van packed with illegal immigrants struck four vehicles in East County, 10News reported.

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Victim: More Needs To Be Done Hear From Crash Witness SOUND OFF: Is There A Solution To Illegal Border Crossings?

The driver of a 1994 Dodge van carrying 33 migrants was headed west in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 8 near Sunrise Highway with the vehicle's lights off at about 9 p.m. Monday when it struck two cars, then crashed head-on into a Ford Explorer and a Toyota van, said California Highway Patrol officer Larry Landeros.

To try to avoid U.S. border patrol authorities, the driver took the van into opposite lanes of traffic to miss a nearby immigration checkpoint that stops only westbound traffic, CHP officer Steven Lopez said, adding that oncoming traffic could not see the blacked-out Dodge.

A Honda Accord and a Honda Prelude headed east on the freeway all sideswiped the Dodge before the Ford smashed into it head-on, Lopez said.

"The Ford was knocked airborne from the impact and vaulted over a guardrail and down an embankment," Landeros said. "The Dodge van then struck head-on a 1989 Toyota van," driven by a 45-year-old Boulevard woman.

The man who was driving the Ford, later identified as Larry S. Baca, 50, of Albuquerque, died at the scene and a woman in the passenger seat was critically injured, Lopez said.

"There were a total of 43 occupants in all of the involved vehicles," Landeros said. Landers said the accident was "one of the worst that we've had."

The injured were taken to eight area hospitals, according to 10News.

SOUND OFF: Is There A Solution To Illegal Border Crossings?