Panga Boat Collides Into Harbor Police Boat, Flees

A panga boat disappeared into Mexican waters Saturday night after colliding with a Harbor Police vessel off the Imperial Beach coast, authorities confirmed.  

The operators of the panga-style boat fled and disappeared in the dark waters, after the crash around 9:25 p.m., according to Harbor Police Sgt. Michael Rich.

No one was injured during the incident, and Rich said he didn't believe the Harbor Police vessel was badly damaged.

Boats similar to the one that crashed into the Harbor Patrol boat are often used to smuggle drugs or people into the United States from Mexico.

"Our patrol unit was not able to see what was on the boat," Rich said.

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