SAN DIEGO (CBS 8/CNS) - A car that was reportedly being chased by the Border Patrol crashed at Lake Morena County Park in East County Sunday, critically injuring one person.
Border patrol officials say it was around 11:40 a.m. in the Campo area when they tried to pull over an SUV. Instead of stopping, it took off, sparking a chase.
They got to Lake Morena County Park and that's when authorities say the vehicle lost control and crashed.
CBS News 8 was told that told nine people were inside - eight Mexican nationals, and one US citizen.
Six ambulances responded to the scene and we were told six people had moderate injuries and three had minor injuries.
Border officials said this was a case of human smuggling.
"This is a sad example of how human smugglers prefer profit over people and don't take people's lives into consideration," said Jose Hernandez of the US Border Patrol.
Lake Morena is just off Buckman Springs Road in East County, a frequent smuggling route between the border near Campo and Interstate 8 near Pine Valley.