Texas man dies after falling from El Paso bridge in human smuggling pursuit
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A Texas man died and a migrant was seriously injured after falling from a bridge following a pursuit in El Paso along the US-Mexico border.
The incident happened Wednesday 9:45 a.m. along the West Paisano bridge.
Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety tried to stop a pickup truck for a traffic violation, according to a news release.
It stated that the driver, a 35-year-old man from Weatherford, Texas, did not stop and fled.
The truck struck a concrete wall while evading at the top of the West Paisano bridge.
The driver and his passenger, an undocumented man from El Salvador, fled the pickup truck, ran from authorities and then fell from the bridge.
Troopers rendered aid to the driver and undocumented migrant.
The man from Texas died at the scene.
The migrant was taken to the hospital with serious injuries he suffered from the fall.
The driver was identified as a human smuggler.
Officials said four other undocumented migrants inside the truck were taken into custody and released to Border Patrol.
Texas Rangers are investigating the incident.
RECOMMENDED: El Paso Homeland Security Investigations seize over 10K doses of fake medical drugs
RECOMMENDED: 42 migrants rescued from stash house in central El Paso
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.