A driver led multiple agencies on a 30-mile pursuit through San Diego County after she gave consent for officials to check her trunk, where they found another person, border patrol agents said.
The pursuit began around 4:52 p.m. Wednesday when the driver, passing through the I-8 Campo checkpoint near the southern California-Mexico border, ended up in secondary inspection by agents. When she got there, she gave border patrol permission to have an agent check the trunk of her Ford Mustang, authorities said.
When agents looked inside, they saw a person, at which point the woman sped off. Right as agents noticed her driving off, they closed the trunk to keep the person from falling out.
Border Patrol agents pursued the woman for a time before handing off the pursuit to California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials.
During the pursuit, the driver reached speeds of up to 120 mph along I-8, CHP officials said. The driver exited the I-8 into El Cajon, then crashed into another car at Madison and 2nd, CHP officials said.
The driver got out of the car and tried to run, but was later caught and taken into custody. CHP officers took her a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries.
Initial CHP reports indicated the woman was pulled over for a speed violation and raced off.
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Prosecution for the driver is pending. Customs and Border Protection officers will take custody of the woman after a doctor gives clearance for her to leave the hospital.
The person in the trunk is in CBP custody and will likely be deported, authorities said. A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the passenger could be a witness for the prosecution in any criminal proceedings against the driver.
Officials said Thursday morning the driver is a U.S. citizen and the man found in her trunk is a Mexican national. No further information was immediately available.
