SAN ANTONIO – A Texas Department of Public Safety special agent died Saturday morning at a San Antonio hospital following a traffic crash near Eagle Pass, according to DPS officials.
Special Agent Anthony Salas, 37, was on duty in Maverick County and working with the US Border Patrol BORTAC when he was involved in a traffic crash during the arrest of six migrants, DPS officials said.
Recommended Videos
Officers at the scene performed CPR on Salas before he was taken by EMS to the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center for treatment. Then, he was airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio.
Salas died from his injuries just after 11 a.m. Saturday while alongside his family, according to DPS officials.
The six migrants involved in the crash were treated for non-life threatening injuries and are now in the custody of Border Patrol, DPS officials said.
DPS said Salas joined the department in 2013 and was stationed in El Paso. He began his career as a trooper with the Texas Highway Patrol before moving up in the ranks to a special agent in the Criminal Investigations Division.
He was also a member of the DPS West Texas Special Response Team and served with the U.S. Marine Corps before joining DPS.
Governor Greg Abbott issued this statement after hearing of Salas’ passing:
“I am saddened to hear that DPS Special Agent Anthony Salas was killed in a horrific vehicle accident in the line of duty in Eagle Pass. This tragedy is a somber reminder of the selfless sacrifices our law enforcement make as they work to keep us safe. I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for Agent Salas’ family as they grieve this unimaginable loss.”
We’ll bring more updates to this story as they become available.