SUMAS, Wash. – The Sumas car crash that hospitalized eight people over the weekend is now said to have involved seven Romanian citizens who had illegally crossed the border.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol confirmed the report on Wednesday, September 20th, and noted the Romanians drove across a remote part of the border and through a berry field.

The car crash occured a short time later when their vehicle blew through a stop sign at the intersection of Van Buren and Badger Roads.

A second car was unable to stop in time and crashed into the first vehicle.

The second car’s driver was identified as 19-year-old Timothy Garrison of Ferndale.

No one in either vehicle was wearing their seatbelt and all eight were sent to Peacehealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.

Three of the Romanians remain hospitalized while four were released and transported to the Sumas Station for processing.

A criminal investigation is underway by Homeland Security and state police are investigating the car accident.