Man shot after ramming stolen truck into police cars at Mexico border

SAN DIEGO -- The driver of a stolen truck trying to evade arrest was shot by a San Diego police officer and a Border Patrol agent after ramming three vehicles with the truck, police said.

The driver suffered a gunshot wound to his leg and was taken to a local hospital. The officer and agent were not hurt.

The shooting, which occurred Thursday night, shut down traffic at the border for hours.

The incident began about 6:30 p.m. when police were alerted about a stolen 2007 Chevy pickup heading south on Interstate 15. The driver, at speeds approaching 100 mph, tried to outrun police, driving on I-15, several surface streets, and then Interstate 5, police said.

As the truck approached the San Ysidro border crossing to Mexico, it got stuck in traffic.

The officer and the agent approached on foot but the driver rammed two San Diego police vehicles and a Border Patrol vehicle as he tried to make a U-turn and drive north on a southbound lane of I-5, police said.

“Fearing they were going to be seriously injured,” the officer and agent opened fire, said Lt. Jorge Duran.

The San Diego police officer has been with the department for six years; the Border Patrol agent with the agency for seven years, authorities said.

The driver, identified as Carlos Romero, 30, will face multiple felony charges, authorities said.

ALSO:

Marine, brother plead not guilty to weapons-related charges

Immigrant’s law license case in California could affect others

Katherine Jackson seeks new trial in AEG wrongful death case

tony.perry@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATsandiego