JAMUL–A human smuggler attempted to flee U.S. Border Patrol agents Tuesday night and struck civilian and law enforcement vehicles during his erratic flight, causing seven people to be treated at area hospitals.
The incident began at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, when a 24-year-old male U.S. citizen in a Chevy Tahoe approached the Highway 94 checkpoint in East County San Diego. In the front passenger seat was a 17-year-old male.
Before agents could make contact with the driver, he sped away from the checkpoint at a high rate of speed. Agents pursued the SUV until the driver came to an abrupt stop on Highway 94 near Lyons Valley Road. As agents approached the vehicle, the driver sped off again at a high rate of speed, colliding with a Border Patrol vehicle.
Driving westbound on Highway 94, the driver struck two passing civilian vehicles ultimately incapacitating the Tahoe. Inside the fleeing vehicle were 10 Mexican nationals who were illegally present in the U.S.
The driver, juvenile passenger, one undocumented migrant, and four Border Patrol agents were injured during the pursuit and taken to area hospitals where they were treated for minor injuries, and later released from the hospital. The vehicle was seized, and the driver will remain in federal custody pending multiple criminal charges.
