High-Speed Border Chase in California Ends With Two Dead in Human Smuggling Attempt
A high-speed chase near the U.S.-Mexico border ends in disaster, leaving two dead and raising questions about the dangers of human smuggling. đ #News #SanDiegoCA #California #Crime
SAN DIEGO, CA – A routine surveillance operation along the U.S.-Mexico border ended in disaster on October 22 when two Mexican migrants were killed in a high-speed chase involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. A U.S. citizen, allegedly at the center of a smuggling operation, was behind the wheel of the ill-fated vehicle.
Suspicious Activity Sparks Pursuit Near Otay Mesa
The incident began around 9:33 a.m. when surveillance at the Customs Export Facility (CEF), located just west of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in California, flagged a vehicle for “potential smuggling activity.” CBP agents moved in as the suspectâs silver Infiniti sedan attempted to leave the parking lot. The Infiniti struck a marked CBP vehicle during its escape, but officers on the ground were unable to track it further.
The Suspect Vehicle Returns and a Dangerous Chase Begins
Later that day, around 2:13 p.m., remote surveillance spotted two individuals climbing over a border barrier and entering the same silver Infiniti in the CEF parking lot. CBP agents identified the sedan from the earlier incident and set off in pursuit.
The driver headed west on State Route 905, with a Border Patrol K9 unit attempting a traffic stop shortly after. However, the suspect sped off, reaching speeds over 100 mph, according to agents involved.
The Crash that Claimed Two Lives
Just minutes into the chase, the Infiniti lost control and slammed into a parked California Department of Transportation truck on the highway shoulder. The impact sent the vehicle spinning into a guardrail before it flipped and landed upside down near the middle of the road. The crash site was located about 4.2 miles from the CEF, where the pursuit began.
Border Patrol agents rushed to the scene, including one officer certified as an emergency medical technician. The situation was grim: two occupants had been ejected from the car. A woman, later identified as a Mexican citizen, was found about 20 feet from the vehicle with severe injuries. Paramedics from CalFire pronounced her dead at the scene.
Inside the wreckage, another passengerâalso identified as a Mexican citizenâwas found alive but critically injured. He was rushed to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The driver, a U.S. citizen, survived with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the same hospital for treatment.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities from the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Medical Examinerâs Office are now leading the investigation into the crash and the smuggling operation. It is unclear what charges the driver may face, as officials continue to review the events that led to the tragic accident.
This incident highlights the deadly risks migrants face when involved in human smuggling attempts and the dangers such operations pose to everyone on the road.
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