A suspect involved in an alleged illegal alien smuggling venture is now in an Arizona hospital after crashing his vehicle while fleeing from the U.S. Border Patrol. According to authorities, the unidentified United States citizen was attempting to smuggle three illegal aliens into the United States before crashing the vehicle on Saturday.
The border detection technology monitored by the Border Patrol initially observed the vehicle shortly after 3:00 p.m. in the vicinity of Parker Canyon Lake. The lake is located a mere five miles from the U.S.-Mexico boundary line and has been frequently used by alien smugglers to move their human cargo inland. Signs on the federal property warn visitors with a simple message: “Travel Caution. Smuggling and illegal immigrants may be encountered in this area.”
Agents in the field were alerted to the activity and located the suspicious vehicle leaving the border area on Arizona State Route 83. The SUV was identified as a white Nissan Rogue. The vehicle stopped within moments of being spotted, and three people disembarked and ran into the surrounding high desert, according to the Border Patrol. The vehicle fled the scene of the bailout and continued traveling northbound, away from the Border Patrol agents parked along the highway.
The Border Patrol agents activated their lights and sirens to stop the vehicle after it raced past their location. Border Patrol agents said the driver failed to yield to their warning lights and sirens. The vehicle driver continued to flee for approximately four miles when agents saw a large dust cloud at the corner of Arizona State Route 83 and Cimmaron Road near Sonoita.
Agents found the suspected smuggler’s vehicle had rolled onto its side. The driver was discovered unconscious, lying on the ground outside the SUV. According to the responding agents, the unconscious man was carefully moved away from the vehicle to avoid the danger of a vehicle fire as emergency medical services were summoned.
A ground ambulance crew responding to the accident summoned a life flight to care for the driver shortly after arriving. The unidentified U.S. citizen was ultimately flown to a hospital to receive advanced medical care.
According to the Border Patrol, three occupants of the vehicle that fled before the crash were arrested. These include two Guatemalans and a Mexican national. An investigation determined them to be illegally present in the country, and all three now face charges for illegal reentry into the United States.
The unidentified driver faces felony charges for alien smuggling, according to authorities involved in the investigation.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
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