A 28-year-old Guatemalan man is recovering in an Albany, Georgia hospital after federal immigration agents say he lost his footing and slid under one of their vehicles while fleeing a vehicle stop before dawn. Edgar Borromeo Cabrera-Gomez's family disputes that account, and the Georgia State Patrol's investigation into the crash remains open.
A Pre-Dawn Stop Turns Into a Crash
According to the Georgia State Patrol, a trooper was sent to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash at 5:34 a.m. on Sept. 17 on the Liberty Expressway at Exit 1 in Dougherty County, as reported by CBS Atlanta. Dougherty County police officers were already at the scene when the trooper arrived. Investigators say ICE agents had stopped a vehicle in the area, and the people inside ran off on foot.
A 2021 Dodge Charger driven by an ICE agent collided with one of the people who fled, according to the state patrol's account relayed by CBS Atlanta. The collision happened in the grassy gore area between the main travel lanes of the expressway and the northbound exit ramp, leaving the man pinned underneath the vehicle. Dougherty County EMS transported him to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. The state patrol identified him as 28-year-old Edgar Gomez, while ICE later identified him more fully as Edgar Borromeo Cabrera-Gomez.
ICE and the Family Tell Different Stories
ICE said in a statement, as reported by WALB, that three people ran from the vehicle stop and that “during the foot pursuit, Edgar Borromeo Cabrera-Gomez... lost his footing and slid under an ICE vehicle” as an officer tried to stop in front of him. The agency said Cabrera-Gomez was taken to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not reported as life-threatening, and that he was in stable condition pending discharge as of this week.
Cabrera-Gomez's family disputes that version of events. The station's report notes that when the family sought information, an official told them Cabrera-Gomez had been the driver of the van and had jumped out, injuring himself — a claim the family also rejects, insisting he was not driving. Per Pasa La Voz Noticias, the family alleged his injuries were severe, including a completely fractured leg, loss of sensation and a spinal fracture — details that have not been independently confirmed.
Investigation Still Active, Two Others Still Sought
The Georgia State Patrol's investigation into the crash remains active, according to the same Pasa La Voz Noticias report. Investigators are collecting additional facts, including ICE body camera video, per the CBS Atlanta account. ICE said it is still looking for the two other people who were in the van.
ICE also said it had previously removed Cabrera-Gomez from the United States four times, and that he would be processed for reinstatement of his prior removal order once he leaves the hospital, per the same WALB account.
A Pattern Beyond Georgia
Cabrera-Gomez's case is not the only recent instance of a pedestrian getting hurt while fleeing federal immigration agents. In Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, a pedestrian fleeing federal immigration agents was struck by a vehicle on a Friday morning, according to NJ.com. That incident happened on Route 35 North near the west-side train station platform at approximately 9:05 a.m., and the man suffered injuries that were not life-threatening before being taken to a local hospital. The Point Pleasant Beach Police Department said it was not involved in the federal enforcement operation; it was not notified of ICE activity before the crash. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office was notified of the incident.
