A woman from Ecuador died after being struck by vehicles while attempting to cross the Cesar E. Chavez Border Highway in El Paso, Texas, on August 17, 2025. The incident occurred around 9:31 p.m., when a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (SBPA) spotted an unidentified man near a concertina wire barricade adjacent to the Rio Grande River. When approached, the man fled into tall grass.
Shortly after, the SBPA observed another individual leaving a nearby canal and moving toward a chain link fence by the highway. The person was later identified as an adult female citizen of Ecuador. Despite verbal commands in Spanish from the agent to stop, she climbed over the fence and ran across the eastbound lanes of traffic. As she attempted to cross the westbound lanes, she was struck by a vehicle.
The SBPA called for emergency medical services and additional agents responded to the scene. At approximately 9:35 p.m., Border Patrol Agents arrived and saw another vehicle approaching her body. An agent tried to signal the driver but was unsuccessful; the driver ran over her body again without stopping, causing further injuries.
Agents blocked off traffic with emergency vehicles while a BPA Paramedic assessed her condition but found no pulse or cardiac activity using an electrocardiogram.
The El Paso Fire Department arrived at 9:44 p.m., took over primary medical care, but could not detect any vital signs and did not provide further treatment.
Personnel from the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner declared her deceased at 2:45 a.m. on August 18 after arriving at 2:23 a.m. An autopsy conducted later that day determined that her death was accidental due to blunt force trauma.
The El Paso Police Department is investigating this incident while CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is reviewing it. CBP OPR has notified the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General about this case.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust."
