Woman Struck, Killed While Crossing Highway Near Border in West Texas

EL PASO, TX — A woman from Ecuador died after being struck twice by vehicles while attempting to cross a highway near the Bridge of the Americas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

The incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. Aug. 17, when a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent saw a man near the Rio Grande before he fled into tall grass. Minutes later, the agent saw the woman climb a fence and run across the Cesar E. Chavez Border Highway, where she was struck by a car, CBP said.

Border Patrol agents called for emergency medical services, but as they attempted to secure the scene, another vehicle ran over the woman’s body. Agents blocked the roadway and a Border Patrol paramedic determined she had no pulse. The El Paso Fire Department later confirmed she was unresponsive.

The El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner declared her dead at 2:45 a.m. Aug. 18. An autopsy determined the preliminary cause of death was blunt force trauma and ruled it accidental.

The El Paso Police Department is investigating the crash. CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility is also reviewing the incident and has notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.