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A suspected smuggler of aliens fell to his death Tuesday from a freeway bridge as he attempted to flee Border Patrol agents, police said.
The incident began at 4:05 a.m. when agents spotted a heavily loaded car on Interstate 5 in Chula Vista. When agents attempted to stop the car, the driver continued on into National City, where the driver pulled off to the left side of the freeway, ran to the back of the vehicle and jumped over a railing, falling about 50 feet onto Civic Center Drive, National City Police Sgt. Mike Tricker said.
Authorities said the identity of the man was unknown. Border Patrol spokesman Wayne Kirkpatrick said agents apprehended six illegal aliens who in the stolen 1976 Toyota Celica. The aliens told Border Patrol agents that the dead man was attempting to smuggle them into the country, Kirkpatrick said.
A passenger in the front seat fled on foot and escaped, authorities added.
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