An Ecuadorian woman died tragically after being hit by a vehicle while running across a highway in El Paso, officials said. The incident, which took place on August 17, around 9:33 p.m., occurred when she climbed over a chain link fence by the Cesar E. Chavez Border Highway and was attempting to cross the road, as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A Supervisory Border Patrol Agent had spotted her near the Rio Grande River and ordered her to stop, but she continued, eventually leading to the fatal accident.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a Border Patrol Agent tried to alert a second vehicle after the initial collision to prevent further injury, but the driver did not heed the BPA’s warning and ran over the woman's body, which resulted in "significant additional injuries." After the BPAs arrived, they blocked the road with their emergency vehicles, and a BPA Paramedic confirmed the absence of a pulse and any cardiac activity. Tragically, the woman was declared deceased early the following morning at 2:45 a.m. by the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner, who also determined that the cause of death was accidental due to blunt force trauma.
The El Paso Police Department is actively investigating the details surrounding this incident, while Customs and Border Protection's Office of Professional Responsibility is also reviewing the circumstances. The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General has been notified, which is part of the standard protocol in cases involving CBP-related deaths.
