A Culberson County Sheriff has gone on record to suggest that the controversial death of a border patrol agent along I-10 earlier this month may have been the result of a sideswipe accident with a passing semi truck rather than a physical attack.
One Border Patrol Agent Dies, Another Injured, Under Mysterious Circumstances
Around 11:20 p.m. on November 18, Border Patrol agent Rogelio Martinez, 36, and his unidentified partner were found severely injured in a concrete-lined culvert that runs along I-10 near Van Horne, Texas — about 30 miles from the Mexican border.
Martinez died as a result of his injuries, which included head trauma and broken bones. The unidentified Border Patrol agent was also seriously hurt and spent several days in the hospital. He says that he has no recollection of what happened to himself and Martinez on November 18.
VIDEO: Hundreds of people paying their respects to fallen Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez. Martinez was from El Paso and killed last week while on-duty near Van Horn. pic.twitter.com/JEqniLxHao
— Patrick Hayes (@KTSMPatrick) November 25, 2017
President Trump and several other prominent Republicans have called the incident a deliberate attack and the FBI is offering a cash reward of $45,000 for information that would shed light on what happened to the Border Patrol agents.
Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carrillo told The Dallas Morning News that the agents may have been sideswiped by a passing tractor-trailer. https://t.co/AV7rs7xJoG
— KVIA ABC-7 News (@abc7breaking) November 30, 2017
Sheriff: Passing Truck May Be To Blame For Death Of Border Patrol Agent
The Texas sheriff who was first on the scene to assist the Border Patrol agents says that he does not believe that the two were victims of a physical attack. Rather, Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carrillo says that he thinks that the two men were accidentally hit by a truck along the side of the interstate: “From the beginning we were radioed to assist in the incident as an injury, not an assault. That’s the way it was communicated to us.”
Carrillo explained that truck traffic is heavy along I-10 and that there are often accidents as a result of gusting wind — and from drivers overcorrecting from wind gusts.
Carrillo said, “If this was an assault, believe me, as sheriff, I’d be the first one out there emphasizing safety in our community and with our deputies, pairing them up.”
The FBI continues to investigate the incident.
#CBP mourns the loss of #USBP Agent Rogelio Martinez who passed away this morning. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fellow Agents during this difficult time. #HonorFirst https://t.co/ALpQ30thVk pic.twitter.com/wLcPzEXtKs
— CBP (@CustomsBorder) November 19, 2017