Federal agents and Texas state troopers rescued 39 suspected illegal aliens from a locked tractor-trailer that caught fire last week following a pursuit near a South Texas immigration checkpoint.
The incident began on June 4 at approximately 8:36 p.m. when a tractor-trailer arrived at the Falfurrias immigration checkpoint for inspection. According to officials, a Border Patrol K-9 alerted on the trailer, and agents directed the driver to a secondary inspection area.
Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly fled, triggering a pursuit involving U.S. Border Patrol agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
During the chase along U.S. Highway 281 near Falfurrias, DPS troopers deployed a tire deflation device in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
“Despite deflated tires, the suspect continued driving until the tractor caught fire,” U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jared Ashby said, per FreightWaves.
The pursuit ended near Linn in Hidalgo County.
According to DPS, troopers and Border Patrol agents immediately removed the driver and a passenger from the cab and placed them under arrest. The driver then informed authorities that additional occupants were inside the trailer.
DPS said troopers and agents “quickly unlocked the trailer and rescued 39 suspected illegal immigrants before the trailer became engulfed in flames.”
All of the occupants were medically screened for injuries before being taken into custody. Authorities said no serious injuries were reported.
The fire prompted the closure of southbound lanes of U.S. 281, a major freight route connecting the Rio Grande Valley with the rest of Texas. The roadway later reopened.
Texas DPS described the incident as an example of the risks associated with human smuggling operations.
“This incident is a reminder of the dangerous lengths human smugglers will go to when engaging in this criminal activity, and DPS is proud to work with our federal partners, like USBP, to stop them,” the agency said.
Photographs released by local authorities showed the trailer heavily damaged by fire as emergency crews worked at the scene.
