By Steve Neavling
Two Border Patrol agents were critically injured when a pickup truck crashed into an immigration checkpoint in Arizona on Saturday.
The Ford F-150 truck was speeding when it struck the back of a car at 4:38 p.m. on Interstate 8 between Wellton and Yuma, Arizona Central reports.
The pickup then careened toward the checkpoint, smashing into crash barriers, another vehicle and checkpoint structures where agents were stationed.
When the pickup came to a rest, it was on its driver’s side, and one of the passengers had been partially ejected. In all, eight people were taken to hospitals, and three were in critical condition as of Monday.
The two injured agents were taken to a local hospital before being flown to Phoenix for advanced care, CBP says. They remained in critical condition Monday.
Authorities seized the pickup for further investigation. It does not appear that driver impairment was a factor, authorities said.
“The U.S. Border Patrol would like to thank all the first responders and trauma personnel who worked tirelessly through the night to deliver lifesaving care to all involved, and to the local community and those across the country for their support of our agents and their families during this time,” a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in a written statement.
Border Patrol’s union tweeted, “Asking for your thoughts and prayers on behalf of two agents in critical condition after an event at a checkpoint on Interstate 8 between Wellton and Yuma, Arizona yesterday evening.
“We have a lot of brave agents who risk their lives every day trying to protect this nation.”
