Human smuggling suspect seriously injured after rolling truck

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents said a human smuggling suspect was apprehended early Sunday morning after rolling his truck while trying to evade authorities. The man sustained severe head trauma during the crash and was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

Two passengers in the man’s truck sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital in Escondido to be evaluated. After being released from the hospital, they were taken to the Indio Border Patrol Station to be interviewed, authorities said.

The incident happened at about 5 a.m. on Highway 78, about four miles west of State Route 2. Agents had previously tried to stop the suspect but he drove away, eventually rolling the truck.

“The driver of this vehicle is an associate of one of the Indio Border Patrol Station’s top two alien smuggling organizations,” said Scott Garrett, the Patrol Agent in Charge of the Indio Station. “The driver chose to flee and wound up seriously injuring himself. Luckily, the two individuals he was smuggling were not seriously injured or he could be facing additional felony charges.”

Border Patrol agents, officers with the California Highway Patrol and emergency medical crews responded to the crash.