Pursuit leads to crash, drug seizure
By Tammy Fonce-Olivas / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/10/2007 01:25:06 PM MDT


A U.S. Border Patrol agent suffered minor injures during a car chase this morning that ended with the seizure of 265 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $212,000.
The drugs were found in a van abandoned on the river levee during a car chase that ended on the river levee near Paisano Drive and Executive Center Boulevard in West El Paso, Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said.

Mosier said the driver of the van fled to Mexico on foot.

The chase began shortly after 5:30 a.m. when Border Patrol agents spotted about seven people crossing illegally into the U.S. near the 2300 block of Paisano. Mosier said the agents reported that the people were carrying large bundles and were loading them into a blue Ford van with New Mexico license plates parked on Paisano. The group allegedly fled back to Mexico after loading up the van.

Border Patrol agents in separate vehicles began to approach the van from east and west Paisano, but before they could get near it they claimed the van's driver sped off east on Paisano.

A car chase began and during the pursuit, the van's driver proceeded to make a U-turn to go west on Paisano.
While trying to make a quick turn around, the van's driver slammed on the brakes. One of the agents pursuing the van was unable to stop his vehicle in time and collided with the van.

"The agent tried to maneuver around the (van) but couldn't and there was contact between the vehicles," Agent Martin Hernandez, another Border Patrol spokesman, said.

However, the collision did not stop the van, which continued west on Paisano and then on to the river levee.

Mosier said the van's driver attempted to cross the Rio Grande but the van's tires sank into the muddy riverbank. The driver then abandoned the van and fled to Mexico on foot.

The agent involved in the crash was taken to Providence Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. His name was not released. The incident is being investigated by the Border Patrol. The El Paso Police Department is investigating the crash.

Police reported nobody else was injured in the crash. The wreck is still under investigation.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/breakingnews/ci_5864249