Suspected Smuggling SUV Crashes in CA (evasion pattern: wrong-way driving)

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times/AP:
Suspected Smuggling SUV Crashes in Calif.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 18, 2005
Filed at 8:56 a.m. ET

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The driver of an SUV packed with suspected illegal immigrants and nearly 700 pounds of marijuana sped from police the wrong way on Interstate 8 before crashing head-on into a California Highway Patrol car, officials said.

Authorities say the incident late Wednesday was part of a pattern by smugglers who try to evade border checkpoints by veering into oncoming traffic, often at night, sometimes with their headlights off. The SUV involved had been modified to enable it to flee more easily.

''This year for some reason they're becoming more frequent,'' said Brian Pennings, a CHP spokesman based at the agency's El Cajon office.

After Wednesday's crash, seven people jumped out of the disabled Chevrolet Suburban and fled into the bush about 30 miles east of San Diego, Pennings said. Investigators quickly caught five of the occupants, who appeared to be illegal immigrants, he said.

The captured passengers and the CHP officer whose car was rammed were not injured, Pennings said....On June 30, an immigrant smuggler swerved into oncoming traffic on a highway 20 miles east of San Diego and struck a pickup truck, killing five people in the van, including a 13-year-old boy. The driver of the pickup was among those injured. The van driver was charged with murder....



http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Smuggling-Crash.html