Posted on 06/27/2007 5:01:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Two suspected illegal immigrants died in a fiery head-on crash after the driver of a pickup fled the Border Patrol and swerved into oncoming traffic on a winding, rural road, authorities said Wednesday. Several people were seriously injured.
The Border Patrol halted its pursuit after reaching the 55 mph speed limit, said spokesman Quinn Palmer.
Agents later spotted a plume of smoke several miles away and found the pickup in flames on a two-lane road near Ocotillo, a desert hamlet about 70 miles east of San Diego, he said.
Pablo Arnaud, Mexico's consul in Calexico, said survivors told Mexican officials that a green and white vehicle - the Border Patrol's colors - pursued the truck until the crash Tuesday afternoon.
The 1994 Dodge Dakota carried eight suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico, two of whom died, authorities said. A man was pronounced dead at the scene and a woman died later at a San Diego-area hospital.
Arnaud said the driver ignored the migrants' pleas to slow down as he raced toward San Diego.
The driver, who suffered moderate injuries, was arrested and will be charged with felony vehicular manslaughter. He was identified by the California Highway Patrol as Daniel Lopez of Mexico.
Lopez, who was not wearing a seat belt, swerved into the opposite lane on county Highway S-2 and struck a 2007 Toyota Corolla, whose 68-year-old driver slammed on his brakes, the CHP said. The driver and a passenger, both from the rural community of Valley Center, suffered major injuries but were expected to survive.
The pickup overturned and caught fire, ejecting several passengers, the CHP said. Survivors were being treated at several Southern California hospitals, including one person with life-threatening injuries.
The Border Patrol said agents used spike strips in an unsuccessful attempt to puncture the pickup's tires.
Smugglers have defied the Border Patrol on curvy, mountain roads east of San Diego by traveling at dangerous speeds and swerving into opposite traffic - sometimes at night with their headlights off. In December, a 26-year-old man was sentenced to 19 years in prison for leading agents on wild chases.
Abandoning the chase at 55 is for pu$$y Californistan types. What pansies.
I didn’t realize that Dodge was making the Dakota in 1994. Learn something new everyday.
“The 1994 Dodge Dakota carried eight suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico, two of whom died, authorities said.
The driver, who suffered moderate injuries, was arrested and will be charged with felony vehicular manslaughter.”
Since the other illegals presumably hired the smuggler to perform these illegal acts, just why are THEY not considered guilty of the same crime ?
If I were to hire someone to rob a bank, and a teller is killed, am I not guilty of that crime also ?
How long before the officers are tried and sentenced?
Bets on how long before they indict these border patrol agents? Is the grand jury cranked yet?
Ignorance is bliss.
What a charming, 3rd world habit.
Remind me not to take any drives on those roads!
They must be ecstatic.
One more in a LONG list of reasons NEVER to visit Kalifornia.
It is a sector policy that agents can not pursue any vehicle that violates any traffic law.
You mean they’re not already indicted? Bush is a little slow on this one.
That is how being a “nation of law” works today
Typical ...
Other people die and have major injuries whie the illegal alien driver has moderate injuries and walks away...
Such a nice canidate for American citizenship...
Nations have gone to war for less. These insurgents are encouraged and aided to attack our borders and our laws by the mexican government (a joke) and this is what we get, and I’ll bet the traitors who are driving this country into bankruptcy and insolvency will split hairs to legitimize their treachery.
and sue the American citizens who got in the way...
obstructing traffic etc....
Isn't this where they filmed the beginning of "It's a Mad x4 World"?
Pro-ILLEGAL alien bush has his justice department working on it now.
Has the US been turned inside out or am I just getting old?
ping
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