CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - A passenger died and four other people were injured when an SUV chased by border agents crashed in Chula Vista Thursday.
Customs and Border Protection officials said agents spotted five people, who they had reason to believe entered the U.S. illegally, get into a silver 2002 Acura MDX at Alta Road, just north of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, just before 7 a.m.
When agents attempted to make contact, the SUV drove away, prompting agents to pursue it.
The chase came to an end on northbound state Route 125 near Olympic Parkway when the driver of the SUV, 29-year-old Kyleigh Polite of Sacramento, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over several times, CBP officials said. At least one person was ejected from the SUV.
A witness told 10News the driver was attempting to switch lanes at a high rate of speed just before flipping over.
A man who was riding in the vehicle, a 54-year-old resident of Sacramento, died at the scene, while three Mexican nationals in the SUV were taken to the hospital with injuries of unknown severity.
Border Patrol Agent Justin Castrejon told 10News, "As you know, we are dealing with a humanitarian and border crisis at this time, so all of our resources are stretched thin and the smugglers do know that and they will take advantage of that."
The crash and subsequent investigation forced the closure of all lanes on both sides of SR-125 near Olympic Parkway.
Polite was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital for treatment of injuries she sustained in the crash. Upon her release, she will be taken to Las Colinas Detention Facility and held on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving causing injury or death, the CHP said.
