Stolen Van Chase Ends in Tragedy — Full Border Patrol Breakdown
Casefile Drift
[{'start': '0.080', 'end': '1.670', 'text': 'March 8th, 2024'}, {'start': '3.640', 'end': '5.680', 'text': 'it started out like any other Friday morning'}, {'start': '5.680', 'end': '8.480', 'text': 'in Southern California but by mid morning'}, {'start': '8.480', 'end': '11.140', 'text': 'a high speed chase a flipped van'}, {'start': '11.240', 'end': '12.200', 'text': 'and a fatal crash'}, {'start': '12.200', 'end': '14.560', 'text': 'would turn it into one of the most dramatic incidents'}, {'start': '14.560', 'end': '16.480', 'text': 'in the El Central Border Patrol sector'}, {'start': '16.480', 'end': '17.740', 'text': 'in recent memory'}, {'start': '18.280', 'end': '21.040', 'text': 'at 11:00am the El Centro Sector'}, {'start': '21.040', 'end': '23.580', 'text': 'communications center of US Border Patrol'}, {'start': '23.640', 'end': '24.720', 'text': 'received a broadcast'}, {'start': '24.720', 'end': '27.620', 'text': 'that would soon trigger a life or death situation'}, {'start': '28.040', 'end': '31.260', 'text': 'a white Dodge Caravan had just been reported stolen'}, {'start': '32.000', 'end': '34.520', 'text': 'it was last seen near the California Department of food'}, {'start': '34.520', 'end': '37.340', 'text': 'and agriculture station on Interstate 8'}, {'start': '37.360', 'end': '38.540', 'text': 'near Winter Haven'}, {'start': '39.600', 'end': '41.980', 'text': 'immediately agents on patrol were alerted'}, {'start': '42.280', 'end': '46.180', 'text': 'eyes were on the roads at approximately 11:00am'}, {'start': '46.280', 'end': '47.780', 'text': 'Less than 10 minutes later'}, {'start': '48.080', 'end': '51.220', 'text': 'one of those agents in a marked Border Patrol vehicle'}, {'start': '51.360', 'end': '53.000', 'text': 'spotted a white Dodge Caravan'}, {'start': '53.000', 'end': '55.140', 'text': 'that matched the exact description'}, {'start': '55.640', 'end': '58.000', 'text': 'it was driving near the intersection of Interstate 8'}, {'start': '58.000', 'end': '60.700', 'text': 'and State Route 7 just outside of Calexico'}, {'start': '61.880', 'end': '63.640', 'text': 'the agent followed discreetly'}, {'start': '63.640', 'end': '65.960', 'text': 'he relayed the license plate back to dispatch'}, {'start': '65.960', 'end': '67.380', 'text': 'confirmation came quickly'}, {'start': '68.080', 'end': '69.820', 'text': 'this was the stolen vehicle'}, {'start': '69.920', 'end': '71.720', 'text': 'it was game on then'}, {'start': '71.720', 'end': '74.060', 'text': 'at exactly 11:00am'}, {'start': '74.280', 'end': '76.880', 'text': 'the agent activated his sirens and emergency lights'}, {'start': '76.880', 'end': '78.940', 'text': 'and attempted a routine traffic stop'}, {'start': '79.560', 'end': '82.240', 'text': 'the van pulled over onto the southbound shoulder of s R'}, {'start': '82.240', 'end': '85.620', 'text': '7 about three quarters of a mile south of Hebrew Road'}, {'start': '86.280', 'end': '88.780', 'text': 'but this would be no ordinary stop'}, {'start': '89.880', 'end': '90.960', 'text': 'as the agent approached'}, {'start': '90.960', 'end': '93.620', 'text': 'the rear sliding door of the vans suddenly opened'}, {'start': '94.120', 'end': '96.320', 'text': 'suspicious he called out'}, {'start': '96.320', 'end': '98.420', 'text': 'ordering the occupants to stay inside'}, {'start': '99.480', 'end': '100.960', 'text': 'the driver then stepped out'}, {'start': '100.960', 'end': '102.260', 'text': 'and in his right hand'}, {'start': '102.280', 'end': '104.700', 'text': 'the agent spotted what appeared to be a firearm'}, {'start': '105.240', 'end': '106.860', 'text': 'immediate danger'}, {'start': '108.080', 'end': '109.440', 'text': 'the agent shouted commands'}, {'start': '109.440', 'end': '111.140', 'text': 'ordering the man to drop the weapon'}, {'start': '111.480', 'end': '112.600', 'text': 'the second agent arrived'}, {'start': '112.600', 'end': '114.780', 'text': 'just in time to witness what happened next'}, {'start': '115.760', 'end': '116.720', 'text': 'instead of complying'}, {'start': '116.720', 'end': '119.340', 'text': 'the driver jumped back into the van and hit the gas'}, {'start': '119.440', 'end': '121.780', 'text': 'fleeing southbound on State Route 7'}, {'start': '122.480', 'end': '125.540', 'text': 'the chase had begun radio traffic lit up'}, {'start': '125.840', 'end': '127.740', 'text': 'agents coordinated positions'}, {'start': '128.719', 'end': '131.640', 'text': 'at 11:00am one of the pursuing agents requested'}, {'start': '131.640', 'end': '133.400', 'text': 'a vehicle immobilization device'}, {'start': '133.400', 'end': '136.100', 'text': 'aka spike strip be deployed to stop the van'}, {'start': '137.280', 'end': '139.520', 'text': 'a supervisory agent answered the call'}, {'start': '139.520', 'end': '142.140', 'text': 'saying he could set it up along State Route 98'}, {'start': '143.160', 'end': '145.360', 'text': 'the suspect made a hard turn onto SR'}, {'start': '145.360', 'end': '146.900', 'text': '98 heading west'}, {'start': '147.760', 'end': '149.900', 'text': 'every passing second increased the risk'}, {'start': '150.240', 'end': '152.740', 'text': 'not just to agents but to civilians on the road'}, {'start': '153.440', 'end': '157.840', 'text': 'then at 11:00am about 3.9 miles west of s R'}, {'start': '157.840', 'end': '162.580', 'text': '7 near Otterholt Road the supervisor sprang into action'}, {'start': '163.240', 'end': '164.280', 'text': 'as the van flew by'}, {'start': '164.280', 'end': '166.420', 'text': 'he successfully deployed the spike strip'}, {'start': '167.040', 'end': '169.300', 'text': "both of the van's front tires were punctured"}, {'start': '169.360', 'end': '172.060', 'text': 'but even then the suspect kept going'}, {'start': '172.680', 'end': '175.500', 'text': 'the van barreled westbound on deflated tires'}, {'start': '175.800', 'end': '177.480', 'text': 'the chase continued for nearly a mile'}, {'start': '177.480', 'end': '180.100', 'text': 'until at approximately 11:00am'}, {'start': '180.120', 'end': '181.500', 'text': 'something gave out'}, {'start': '182.120', 'end': '183.880', 'text': 'the van swerved off the pavement'}, {'start': '183.880', 'end': '185.440', 'text': 'crossed a patch of open desert'}, {'start': '185.440', 'end': '188.020', 'text': 'and plunged straight into an irrigation ditch'}, {'start': '188.480', 'end': '190.080', 'text': 'it flipped upside down'}, {'start': '190.080', 'end': '192.660', 'text': 'landing windshield first into the canal bank'}, {'start': '193.440', 'end': '195.220', 'text': 'officers rushed to the wreckage'}, {'start': '195.240', 'end': '196.780', 'text': 'they yelled for the driver'}, {'start': '197.240', 'end': '198.340', 'text': 'no response'}, {'start': '199.360', 'end': '203.240', 'text': 'the doors were jammed windows shattered inside'}, {'start': '203.240', 'end': '204.820', 'text': 'the man lay unconscious'}, {'start': '204.920', 'end': '207.380', 'text': 'trapped between the dashboard and floorboard'}, {'start': '208.600', 'end': '212.320', 'text': 'at 11:00am emergency crews from Imperial County Fire'}, {'start': '212.320', 'end': '214.440', 'text': 'and an ambulance from American Medical Response'}, {'start': '214.440', 'end': '215.580', 'text': 'arrived at the scene'}, {'start': '216.240', 'end': '218.020', 'text': 'sadly it was too late'}, {'start': '218.800', 'end': '221.220', 'text': 'the driver was pronounced dead at the scene'}, {'start': '221.840', 'end': '223.260', 'text': "and that wasn't all"}, {'start': '223.840', 'end': '225.960', 'text': 'one of the pursuing agents reported seeing the driver'}, {'start': '225.960', 'end': '227.420', 'text': 'toss something out the window'}, {'start': '227.520', 'end': '230.740', 'text': 'earlier in the chase near Heber Road and SR 7'}, {'start': '231.280', 'end': '232.760', 'text': 'when officers investigated'}, {'start': '232.760', 'end': '234.740', 'text': 'they found it a baggie'}, {'start': '235.240', 'end': '237.820', 'text': 'inside suspected narcotics'}, {'start': '238.240', 'end': '239.240', 'text': 'back at the crash site'}, {'start': '239.240', 'end': '241.020', 'text': 'a handgun was recovered from the van'}, {'start': '241.280', 'end': '242.900', 'text': 'the evidence was stacking up'}, {'start': '243.080', 'end': '244.920', 'text': 'a stolen vehicle a firearm'}, {'start': '244.920', 'end': '247.660', 'text': 'possible drugs and now a fatality'}, {'start': '248.160', 'end': '250.600', 'text': 'investigators from the California Highway Patrol'}, {'start': '250.600', 'end': '252.560', 'text': 'and the Imperial County Medical Examiner'}, {'start': '252.560', 'end': '253.820', 'text': 'took over the scene'}, {'start': '254.960', 'end': '257.460', 'text': 'The Department of Homeland Security was notified'}, {'start': '257.480', 'end': '259.160', 'text': "and customs and Border Protection's"}, {'start': '259.160', 'end': '260.960', 'text': 'Office of Professional Responsibility'}, {'start': '260.960', 'end': '263.060', 'text': 'began its own internal review'}, {'start': '264.240', 'end': '265.120', 'text': 'as of now'}, {'start': '265.120', 'end': '268.420', 'text': "the driver's identity and full motive remain unreleased"}, {'start': '268.960', 'end': '272.100', 'text': 'the questions swirl why did he run'}, {'start': '272.600', 'end': '275.860', 'text': 'was he trafficking drugs escaping another crime'}, {'start': '276.320', 'end': '278.060', 'text': 'was the gun even real'}, {'start': '279.280', 'end': '282.720', 'text': "under President Biden's 2,022 executive Order"}, {'start': '282.720', 'end': '284.940', 'text': 'on effective and Accountable Policing'}, {'start': '285.160', 'end': '288.320', 'text': 'CBP has pledged to release the body cam footage'}, {'start': '288.320', 'end': '290.620', 'text': 'as soon as the investigation concludes'}, {'start': '291.280', 'end': '293.300', 'text': 'but make no mistake'}, {'start': '293.720', 'end': '296.180', 'text': 'this is more than just a tragic chase'}, {'start': '296.960', 'end': '298.520', 'text': 'this was a moment by moment'}, {'start': '298.520', 'end': '301.020', 'text': 'reminder of how fast things can escalate'}, {'start': '301.480', 'end': '303.280', 'text': 'from a traffic stop to a pursuit'}, {'start': '303.280', 'end': '307.220', 'text': 'to a deadly crash all within just over 20 minutes'}, {'start': '308.240', 'end': '310.140', 'text': 'every action had a consequence'}, {'start': '310.320', 'end': '312.160', 'text': 'every decision shaped the ending'}, {'start': '312.160', 'end': '314.620', 'text': 'and for one man the decision to run'}, {'start': '314.800', 'end': '317.700', 'text': 'whether out of fear guilt or desperation'}, {'start': '318.120', 'end': '320.340', 'text': 'ended in silence at the bottom of a ditch'}, {'start': '321.040', 'end': '323.260', 'text': 'sometimes justice comes too late'}, {'start': '323.760', 'end': '325.900', 'text': 'sometimes it never fully arrives'}, {'start': '326.680', 'end': '327.980', 'text': 'but one thing is certain'}, {'start': '328.360', 'end': '331.160', 'text': 'the Border Patrol agents involved acted fast'}, {'start': '331.160', 'end': '332.400', 'text': 'stayed coordinated'}, {'start': '332.400', 'end': '335.220', 'text': 'and did everything they could to end the pursuit safely'}, {'start': '336.320', 'end': '338.140', 'text': 'unfortunately this time'}, {'start': '338.200', 'end': '341.100', 'text': "the suspect's choices left no safe outcome"}]