SAN DIEGO—Two men who were suspected of being involved in a hit and run accident were detained by Border Patrol agents early Sunday morning in San Ysidro.
On Saturday at about 11:30 p.m., Border Patrol agents came upon an accident shortly after it happened at the intersection of Camino De La Plaza and Dairy Mart Road. Agents quickly determined it was a hit and run and notified local authorities. The agents encountered multiple injured victims, including a small child. Paramedics were summoned to the scene to respond to the victims’ injuries, which were considered non-life threatening.
After learning that the suspect vehicle was a Chevrolet pickup truck, agents searched for and found a damaged vehicle that matched the description at the intersection of Vista Lane and Corte Amalia shortly after midnight. Agents approached the vehicle and questioned the driver and passenger, who were both determined to be Mexican nationals in the country illegally.
Officers with the San Diego Police Department arrived soon after to the suspects’ location to interview the driver. The officers arrested him for driving under the influence, as well as fleeing from the scene of a vehicle accident with injuries. Agents arrested the passenger and transported him to a Border Patrol station and processed him for removal proceedings.
Kathleen Scudder, Patrol Agent in Charge of the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station, said, “Without question, our agents’ coordinated effort with our law enforcement partners secured a successful outcome to an unfortunate event.”
To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.