Two suspected human smugglers allegedly blew past 100 mph on Interstate 10 in Texas before their vehicle was forced to slow, both men bolted across the highway and one suspect allegedly stole a civilian’s vehicle at gunpoint.
The Thursday pursuit unfolded in Fabens and was recorded from above by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations as law enforcement followed the vehicle along the interstate.
Radio communications captured on the video suggested the front right tire may have been damaged by a spike strip before the vehicle began losing speed.
Then both doors opened. “Bail out, bail out, bail out!” someone shouted in the video as the two occupants jumped out and ran.
One man was quickly caught by a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety after the pair crossed the highway. The second suspect allegedly carjacked a civilian at gunpoint before authorities later took him into custody.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott posted the video on X and credited Border Patrol, Air and Marine Operations, Homeland Security Investigations and Texas DPS for the coordinated response.
“Suspected human smugglers hit 100+ mph and bailed out when their vehicle was disabled,” Scott wrote. “One then carjacked a civilian at gunpoint. Smugglers risk lives for profit. We will keep taking them down.”
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Authorities have not disclosed how many people were allegedly being smuggled or their nationalities.
KFOX14 reported that the chase happened near a Speedway gas station at about 9:16 a.m. The suspects are expected to face human smuggling and evading arrest or detention charges, according to the station.
The Texas chase put a civilian in danger during an alleged escape. In New Jersey, prosecutors said a stolen Mercedes-Benz G Wagon became part of a deadly crash that killed a grandmother and her longtime partner.
Alice Stilwell Holt, 67, and Robert “Bob” Barr Jr., 54, both of Egg Harbor Township, died about 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 22 near Route 50 and Third Street in Mays Landing, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
The black G Wagon struck the Hyundai sedan carrying Holt and Barr head-on and sent the smaller vehicle into a nearby gas station, prosecutors said. Surveillance video captured the collision.
Prosecutors accused Nayshaun Brown, 18, of Atlantic City, and three juveniles of stealing the 2024 Mercedes-Benz G Wagon at about 3:40 a.m. that Saturday.
A local officer in nearby Longport tried to stop the teens after the stolen SUV sped past, prosecutors said. Hamilton Township police later saw the G Wagon around 7:45 a.m. and pursued it, but officers had lost sight of the vehicle minutes before the crash.
The driver was allegedly trying to get away from authorities when the Mercedes hit Holt and Barr’s sedan.
The teens had few injuries after the wreck and tried to run, but authorities caught them shortly afterward, officials said.
Brown and the three juveniles were charged with conspiracy counts involving aggravated assault, eluding, joyriding and receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
Brown also faces a charge of employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime.
Brown is being held at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Two of the juveniles remain in custody, while another was released by a Superior Court judge Sunday morning.
In Florida, 19 children escaped injury after authorities said a driver trying to avoid a school-zone stop crashed head-on into their bus.
The Tuesday morning crash involved Qahiem Williams, 23, who was allegedly driving 17 mph over the posted speed limit on County Road 466 near Tatonka Terrace, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy was working traffic enforcement around 7:20 a.m. in front of The Villages Intermediate Center when Williams was spotted, the sheriff’s office said.
Williams allegedly sped up instead of pulling over after the deputy turned around and activated emergency lights.
At a traffic light, Williams allegedly sideswiped two vehicles. The collisions damaged the axle of his vehicle before it crossed into a head-on crash with a Sumter County school bus on County Road 103, authorities said.
All 19 children aboard the bus were safe and uninjured, according to the sheriff’s office.
Video from inside the bus showed the impact and captured the driver’s side door of Williams’ vehicle appearing to open moments before the crash.
Williams allegedly left the damaged vehicle and ran. Police body-camera video showed a deputy chasing him near a Walmart before taking him into custody.
Williams faces multiple charges listed by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, including fleeing or eluding, driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting an officer, hit-and-run and a moving traffic violation.
Authorities said Williams also had two outstanding Sumter County warrants for fleeing or eluding and driving with a suspended license.
Williams was medically cleared before being transported to the Sumter County Detention Center, where authorities said he was being held without bond.
