Border Patrol nabs illegal immigrants, smuggler after spotting SUV 'driving erratically' on shredded tire

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Alleged smuggler leads TXDPS troopers on high-speed chase

Chase happened on US-83 in Hidalgo County, Texas.

Border Patrol agents apprehended two illegal immigrants and a smuggler after they spotted a damaged SUV with a shredded tire "driving erratically" on the road near the besieged southern border, according to a border patrol official.

Agents in the Tucson Sector spotted the rental vehicle on Sunday, and noticed that it had a flat tire and "significant damage." Images of the vehicle show the car had a shredded tire and parts of the car falling off.

In a statement, Sector Chief John Modlin said the female driver eventually slowed down, before jumping out of the moving vehicle and running off, leaving her human cargo on the driverless SUV.

One of the migrants is said to have managed to stop the careering vehicle, before being arrested along with the other migrant. Agents also eventually nabbed the smuggler — a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, who now faces criminal charges.

HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT OF 12-YEAR-OLD, 15-YEAR-OLD MIGRANT SMUGGLERS END IN SHOCKING CAR CRASH

Feb 5, 2023: Agents apprehend illegal immigrants and a smuggler in Arizona. (Customs and Border Protection)

The wild scene is the latest instance of human smuggling caught by authorities at the southern border. Coyotes frequently attempt to recruit U.S. citizens to smuggle in illegal immigrants seeking to evade Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Feb 5, 2023: Agents apprehend illegal immigrants and a smuggler in Arizona. (Customs and Border Protection)

Last week Fox News obtained video of two boys, ages 15 and 12, who wrecked their vehicle after vaulting onto a highway as they attempted to evade law enforcement while smuggling an illegal immigrant into Texas.

TEXAS DPS TROOPERS TURN IN 4 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOLLOWING CHASE INVOLVING CHILD

The driver was being chased by Texas troopers and lost control of the vehicle due to the wet road conditions, hit an embankment, went airborne and hit IH-35.

Video obtained by Fox News shows the boys calling for help from the wreckage and officers smashing the windows to get them out. Authorities said that the illegal immigrant being smuggled was located in the vehicle with "incapacitating injuries" and transported to a hospital.

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Almost 600,000 illegal immigrants evaded Border Patrol in FY 2022. So far in FY 2023, which began in October, that number has already exceeded 300,000 – although the head of Border Patrol said Friday that numbers of "gotaways" had dropped over 30% between December and January.