The Region : Smuggling Suspect, Youths Hurt in Chase

A smuggling suspect and two teen-age illegal aliens in the trunk of his car were treated for injuries following a high-speed pursuit by U.S. Border Patrol agents that ended when the suspect’s car crashed on Ortega Highway and flipped over an embankment about six miles east of the San Diego Freeway, authorities said. The youths complained of stomach and chest pains and were taken to Mission Community Hospital for observation, a hospital spokesman said. The smuggling suspect, whose name authorities declined to release, was treated for cuts and bruises at San Clemente Hospital and released into the Border Patrol’s custody, said Border Patrol supervisor Dale Feist. The pursuit began at the Border Patrol checkpoint near San Onofre and traveled northbound on the San Diego Freeway to Ortega Highway, he said.