Texas trooper fatally injured in accident while helping feds apprehend illegal migrants

A Texas Department of Public Safety special agent was fatally injured in a crash near the Mexico border while helping federal border agents apprehend illegal migrants, officials say.

Agent Anthony Salas, 37, was working a “tactical” operation with U.S. Border Patrol on Friday evening when the accident happened and he died after being airlifted to a San Antonio hospital, Texas DPS said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Salas was injured when a border patrol agent’s vehicle transporting six illegal migrants crashed.

“At the time of the accident, the agent was transporting six undocumented migrants, with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety,” the federal agency said Saturday night. “A Texas DPS trooper was seriously injured during the accident and has passed away.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott mourned the loss of the officer, hailing him as another hero killed in the line of duty during a week that has seen several tragic law enforcement deaths.

“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,” Abbott said. “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.”

Salas joined the department in 2013 and was stationed in El Paso, DPS said.