LA GRULLA, TX – A devastating incident unfolded near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas on Friday, as a helicopter carrying National Guard soldiers and a Border Patrol agent crashed, leading to the unfortunate demise of at least three individuals. The incident occurred in the border town of La Grulla, located near the Rio Grande in Starr County.
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, the top local official, reported the heartbreaking news and mentioned that the fourth person involved in the crash is battling for life in a critical condition. The National Guard soldiers were executing federal orders for the Department of Homeland Security when the tragedy struck.
The helicopter involved in the crash was a “Lakota” from the New York National Guard. The cause of the crash remains uncertain, and investigations are underway by the local authorities, the National Guard, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This crash is the second of its kind this year, following a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter crash in January. The co-pilot sustained a minor hand injury, and the helicopter was significantly damaged when it lost power and crashed along the same border.