www.signonsandiego.com

Man is killed by agent near border

UNION-TRIBUNE
October 22, 2005

SAN YSIDRO – A Border Patrol agent struck and killed one of three men who were running within yards of the U.S.-Mexico border last night, authorities said.

The man carried no identification and his citizenship was unknown. He was Latino and appeared to be in his late 30s, Border Patrol spokesman Richard Kite said.

The other two men ran away. Agents were searching for them last night.

Kite said the incident is being handled as an accident, under investigation by his agency and the San Diego Police Department.

The agent's name was not released.

The agent was driving a marked Border Patrol sport utility vehicle on a dirt road near Rail Court and East San Ysidro Boulevard, several hundred yards east of the port of entry, Kite said.

He said undocumented migrants frequently choose the area to scale the two tall, parallel border fences and enter the United States.

About 6 p.m., three men ran across the agent's path and the SUV struck one of the men. He was declared dead at the scene.

"We hope the other two men will come forward and identify him, so we can notify his next of kin," Kite said.

The agent was not injured in the accident, Kite said.