DENVER -- When a Denver man saw television coverage of recent car crashes involving immigrant smuggling, he became angry.

It brought him back to last August when he and his family’s car broke down along Interstate 25 near Hatch, New Mexico while returning home from a vacation. They began soliciting help from passing cars.

The man he flagged down for help turned out to be a coyote, which is a person that smuggles people into the United States.

"It was an experience that I won't never forget," he said. "I think there was a total of about 15 individuals in there."

They went to the coyote’s ranch where more people emerged from two mobile homes. His wife began talking to one of the women, and learned they were being smuggled. When asked how much they paid to come across, the immigrants said anywhere from $4,500 a person to $10,000 per couple.

The Denver family learned some of them were going to Wyoming, some to Chicago, and some through Nebraska.

The immigrants were excited, but they were scared, and afraid that they might get caught.

After a couple of hours the family was able to seek additional help for their broke down car, but wondered how many more smuggling operations might be out there.

"I know it happens when we're sleeping," the man said. "I know it's happening while we're waking up."

In the cases of the car crashes in Colorado this past week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement says the vast majority of the passengers will not face charges. But the cases of the drivers of each of the vehicles may be presented to the U.S. Attorney for possible prosecution.