La Joya immigrant chase ends with crash (KGBT-TX)

La Joya immigrant chase ends with crash

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 8:35 a.m.

A truck loaded with 16 illegal immigrants rolled over near Mission Hospital following an early Tuesday morning chase with La Joya police.

According to La Joya Police Chief Jose Luis Del Angel, a 35-year-old driver, from Rio Bravo, Mexico, ran a stop sign along U.S. Expressway 83.

An officer responded by trying to initiate a traffic stop.

But instead of pulling over, the driver allegedly fled into Mission and crashed near Bryan Road and eastbound lanes of U.S. Expressway 83.

Paramedics trasnported three passengers to Mission Hospital with unknown injuries.

Police arrested the driver who was identified as a suspected human smuggler.

Authorities said the remaining passengers were taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Investigators did not release the driver's name but said he faces evading arrest charges by La Joya police and possible federal human trafficking charges.