Smugglers drive car into Rio Grande, leaving migrant stuck in trunk, Border Patrol says

Border agents rescued a migrant trapped in the trunk of a car plunged into the Rio Grande by fleeing smugglers, according to Customs and Border Protection officials.

The pursuit began after a camera operator spotted several people pack into a Ford Fusion near the Texas border town of Roma, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, a CBP release said.

The sedan departed from the pickup site, but was quickly confronted by border agents, the release said. While evading the agents, the driver crashed into the Rio Grande.

Four people, the driver and three passengers, climbed out of the submerged car and swam across the river to Mexico, according to CBP.

But the group left two people behind, including one man locked in the trunk, CBP said.

“Agents apprehended one passenger and rescued a subject from inside the closed trunk,” the release said.

Roma, population around 11,500, is roughly 54 miles west of McAllen.

This story was originally published October 26, 2022 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Smugglers drive car into Rio Grande, leaving migrant stuck in trunk, Border Patrol says."