Thread: Border Patrol agent killed while rendering aid

Border Patrol agent killed while rendering aid

By Lynn Brezosky
Updated 09:17 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 2012

BROWNSVILLE — An on-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was struck and killed Thursday morning as he rendered aid to a motorist in Uvalde County, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

James Dominguez, 41, was assisting a woman stranded on U.S. Highway 90 near Cline at about 6 a.m. when he was struck by a pickup, officials said. A justice of the peace pronounced him dead at 7:18 a.m.

Dominguez, a 12-year veteran of the Border Patrol, is survived by a wife and four children.

“We mourn the loss of Agent Dominguez and offer our condolences to his family, friends and co-workers,” said Del Rio Sector Border Patrol spokesperson Dora Doyle.

Eliseo Ceja, spokesman for the DPS in Laredo, said the motorist, who was with her husband, had at least one flat tire and was on the west side the highway when Dominguez stopped to help.

They and Dominguez were picking up debris on the shoulder of the east side of the highway when Dominguez was hit, apparently in the back, by a white 1997 Ford F-350 with two male occupants.

Ceja said the motorist and her husband attempted to aid Dominguez but did not succeed.

Ceja did not have information about criminal charges against the driver but said the accident still was under investigation. He said the driver of the truck did stop.

Ceja did not have information about whether there was contraband in the truck or whether the driver was given a sobriety test.

lbrezosky@express-news.net

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