21-year-old to face human smuggling charges after 20-minute police pursuit

McALLEN — A man who led police on a 20-minute chase Wednesday night through several cities in Western Hidalgo County is expected to face federal human smuggling charges.

Sullivan City Police began pursuing the suspected smuggler, who allegedly was transporting six undocumented immigrants inside a van, about 9:30 p.m., Sgt. David Rocha of the Sullivan City police Department said.

His identity was not released because he had not been formally charged, but police did say he was a 21-year-old undocumented Mexican national.

The driver of the 1991 Chevrolet van, which traveled at a speed of more than 100 miles per hour, led several law enforcement agencies, including Palmview Police and U.S. Border Patrol, through several cities before colliding with two vehicles in McAllen 20 minutes after the chase began, Rocha said.

The full-sized van with Ohio license plates first hit a Nissan SUV head-on before it ricocheted and struck a Sullivan City Police unit on McColl Road north of Expressway 83, Rocha said. No injuries were reported.

Law enforcement officials launched a manhunt after the suspected smuggler and immigrants attempted to flee the scene, Rocha said. Officers, however, were able to locate three of the immigrants shortly after and found the driver and the other three after searching the area with the assistance of a helicopter crew for several hours, police said.

The 21-year-old was expected to be arraigned on evading charges, a third-degree felony, Thursday night or Friday morning, Rocha said. He was also expected to face federal human smuggling charges, he added. 

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Naxiely Lopez covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4434.