US authorities are investigating the attack that took place outside a migrant shelter that left at least seven dead in Brownsville, Texas, on the border with Mexico.

The driver of the vehicle “hit several people waiting at a bus stop” in Brownsville, local police spokesman Martín Sandoval told an ABC-affiliated television channel.

“At 8:30 am (1:30 pm GMT) in the morning we received a call about a gray truck that ran a red light and ran over several people. We confirm that seven people have died and others who have gone to hospital,” explained Sandoval.

“We have almost ten (injured) but it could be more. We have detained the driver of the vehicle, he is under arrest, but we have him in the hospital because he also suffered several injuries,” he explained.

Some “of the people were (migrants) but we don’t know if all the people who died are immigrants. It is something that we are investigating with the border police,” said the spokesman.

“We’re not saying it’s intentional. For now, we’re treating it as an accident.”

The driver of the vehicle is being prosecuted for dangerous driving, but could be prosecuted, according to police.

“It was sudden. A lady passed by in a car and told us to get out of the way and we to get out of the way. It was in moments. The killer (sic) came in the car and pointed at us, insulted us, called us things like ‘bastard’ (bastard), I don’t know, I don’t understand that kind of thing,” Luis Herrera, a Venezuelan, 36 years old who was in the car told AFP place and was injured in the arm.

“He gave all the volume (speed) to the car and it just passed me on one side,” he said, pointing to his arm.

At least six people were injured.