1 injured, 2 arrested after Border Patrol vehicle pursuit ends in crash in Chula Vista

One person was injured and two people were arrested after a vehicle pursuit involving U.S. Border Patrol agents ended with a collision in Chula Vista on Sunday, officials said.

Federal agents responding to a suspected human smuggling incident one mile west of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry encountered a vehicle they suspected was connected to the incident. The driver refused to yield when the agents attempted to stop the vehicle, prompting the pursuit, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The pursuit ended in Chula Vista when the vehicle being chased crashed into another vehicle.

Chula Vista police said officers responded to a report of a collision on First Avenue south of E Street around 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

Sgt. Anthony Molina said the vehicle agents were chasing exited Interstate 805 and headed south on First Avenue before crashing into the side of an uninvolved vehicle. He said the vehicle being pursued also struck two parked, unoccupied vehicles in the same block as the initial collision before stopping.

Molina said the driver of the first uninvolved vehicle was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Border Patrol agents arrested the driver and passenger involved in the chase. Officials said the driver was an El Salvadoran national who entered the country illegally in 2023 and was later paroled. The driver is facing human smuggling charges and will be placed in removal proceedings.

The passenger is facing a federal charge for being in the U.S. illegally, the CBP spokesperson added. No further details were provided.

The Chula Vista police are investigating the collision.