(ConservativeSense.com) – Two border patrol agents were injured when a pickup truck crashed near the border in Arizona. Three vehicles collided during the incident at Interstate 8 at milepost 17 on October 21, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS).
A statement from the organization said a Ford F-150 came to the checkpoint at speed and slammed into the rear of a stationary vehicle. It then continued, at pace, toward crash barriers and collided again before finally smashing into the rear end of a third vehicle.
Eight people were injured and taken to the hospital, including two Border Patrol agents who were flown to a medical facility in Phoenix for “advanced care.” AZDPS said three people were in critical condition, while a statement from the Border Patrol Union read, “We have a lot of brave agents who risk their lives every day trying to protect this nation.”
The hazards faced by US Border Patrol agents are documented by the organization, and in 2022, suicide was openly discussed. Of the 18,000 agents employed, 14 took their own lives last year. In 2021, the figure was 15. The New York Post reported in November 2022 that three agents committed suicide in three weeks. Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales said the work the agents do, particularly in light of the unprecedented border crisis, was taking a heavy toll.
“I’ve seen it in their faces. I’ve heard it in their voices for months now. How much can a person take?” Gonzalez asked.
On top of the suicides, 15 Border Patrol agents died in 2022—all in the line of duty. This represents an increase of 275% when compared to 2020. Some agents died from diseases, including coronavirus, encountered at the border, and two died in vehicle collisions. Just before Christmas last year, an agent who was not identified was killed when his vehicle overturned while tracking a group of illegal migrants near the Texas border.
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