A heartbreaking military vehicle accident recently cut short the lives of two U.S. service members. The incident occurred along New Mexico’s Highway 9, across from the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station. The incident took place around 8:50 a.m. local time on Tuesday, leading to immediate emergency responses. This is a very tragic crash that has hurt the military community deeply. It especially targets those who serve in Joint Task Force Southern Border.
The vehicle accident happened at mile marker 115, approximately 13 miles north of El Paso, Texas, and adjacent to the U.S.-Mexico border. Following the crash, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office reported that the service members were airlifted to a hospital for treatment. Though two of the service members were pronounced dead at the scene, a third was in serious condition.
Earlier this year, the Joint Task Force Southern Border assumed operational control of military operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. The fallen service members were doing their part in this very important mission. Per the Defense Department, this joint task force includes elements of a Stryker brigade combat team. It adds one general support aviation battalion. Border security Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth740 FORMATTED lidar deployed nearly 3,000 active-duty personnel to reinforce border security in March. This troop deployment is only the latest move in a larger effort to address immigration and drug trafficking through repression and violence.
The initial report of the crash was by NBC affiliate KTSM of El Paso, Texas. These are the agencies currently investigating what led up to her death. In the interim, the Joint Task Force Southern Border has not answered repeated requests for further information regarding the crash.