Suspected human smuggler hurt in rollover crash during chase in Arizona

PHOENIX — A suspected human smuggler was critically injured in a rollover crash after attempting to flee from Border Patrol agents in southern Arizona on Saturday, according to authorities.

Before the crash, the smuggler fled from Border Patrol agents, according to a Tuesday news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The vehicular pursuit took place near Sonoita, a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County that sits around 28 miles northeast of Nogales.

What led up to rollover crash that injured alleged human smuggler?

The chase began when Border Patrol detection technology observed the driver’s vehicle heading north from the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona around 3 p.m. on Saturday.

After authorities spotted the vehicle, it stopped and three people fled from the car into the nearby desert: two people from Guatemala and one person from Mexico, CBP said.

The three were later found to be in the U.S. illegally and are facing charges for illegally reentering the country, CBP said.

After the three migrants exited, the driver continued northbound and raced past additional agents parked along State Route 83.

While evading authorities, the driver raced down State Route 83, led agents on a chase for about four miles and then rolled over and crashed, CBP said.

Agents found the driver unconscious outside the vehicle. Emergency medical technicians called for an air medical flight due to the extent of the driver’s injuries. The driver was flown to a local hospital for medical care and is now facing charges for human smuggling, CBP said.

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