Gunfire, police chase after car crashes through border crossing from U.S.

Witnesses say they heard gunfire and saw a car chase through the streets of Surrey, B.C. on Tuesday, after a vehicle dashed through the Pacific Highway border crossing from the United States.

The incident started at approximately 2:40 p.m. when a vehicle drove straight at several members of the Canada Border Services Agency, according to police. Witnesses say the vehicle was a dark-coloured Volkswagen with its trunk open.

Police say the suspect allegedly had a firearm.

"There was a bunch of yelling and 'pop-pop-pop,'" Cadi Schiffer, a witness who was waiting at the crossing, told CTV Vancouver. "All the border officers perked up, and ran over and surrounded the car."

Border guards from the U.S. and Canada scrambled to intercept the vehicle, but it broke through to the Canadian side, where Surrey RCMP gave chase.

"It almost looked like every single cop in Surrey was after the guy," witness Sam Whittaker said.

The vehicle eventually turned back to the border, where U.S. border agents stopped it. A man was arrested at the scene, and U.S. officials searched the car and its contents with the help of a K-9 unit.

Surrey RCMP were also seen using dogs at the side of the road after the incident.

The border crossing re-opened at 6 p.m., approximately three hours after the incident.

Surrey RCMP are leading the investigation into the incident, with assistance from the CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents arrested a man at the border after the incident, which occurred at approximately 2:40 p.m.

With files from CTV Vancouver

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  Border guards investigate a vehicle that caused a security incident at the Pacific Highway border crossing, from the U.S. to Canada, on July 5, 2016.

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  Canadian border guards are silhouetted as they replace each other at an inspection booth at the Douglas border crossing in Surrey, B.C., on August 20, 2009. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)