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by Elizabeth RuizFor the second time this week, civilian drivers have sped through security checkpoints at military installations in South Texas. Both times, pop up barriers prevented the vehicles from getting far.
The latest incident occured in San Antonio Thursday night when a driver being pursued by Bexar County Sheriff's Deputies went through the Valley Hi gate at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
"The suspect was fleeing from Bexar County Law Enforcement officers when he circumvented the gate at Lackland and went through a parking lot. All four of his tires were shredded by pop up tire strips and he was briefly pursued by JBSA Lackland security forces," said Lt. Samantha Neese.
She told 550 KTSA News the suspect's vehicle crashed into a car, but there were no injuries.
"He hit a curb and came to a stop in another parking lot," said Neese.
The suspect was apprehended by JBSA Lackland security forces and turned over to Bexar County Sheriff's Deputies.
Deputies started chasing the suspect on Loop 1604 near IH35 when he refused to pull over after they tried to stop him for speeding.
Meanwhile, a seventh suspected illegal immigrant has died after a pickup truck crammed with 15 people crashed at Naval Air Station Kingsville. Border Patrol spokesman Henry Mendiola on Friday told the Associated Press that the woman died Thursday at a Corpus Christi hospital.
John Gagne at Naval Air Station Kingsville says the driver sped through a checkpoint as he tried to get away from law enforcement officers who were chasing him.
"They deployed the 'final denial barrier' in accordance with force protection measures. The vehicle impacted the barrier at high speed," Gagne told 550 KTSA News.
Investigators initially reported six deaths, but Border Patrol spokesman Henry Mendiola on Friday told the Associated Press that a woman died Thursday at a Corpus Christi hospital.
Eight people, including the driver, survived and authorities believe the occupants of the vehicle were from Guatemala and Honduras.
