Two U.S. Border Patrol agents were killed Thursday morning in a crash with a freight train near Gila Bend, officials said.
Both agents were inside an unmarked black SUV that was crossing the train tracks at an intersection that had no flashing lights or crossing gates when their vehicle was hit about 6 a.m., said Lt. Justin Griffin, a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman.
Agents Hector R. Clark, 39, and Eduardo Rojas Jr., 35, died at the scene, said Agent Kenneth Quillin, Yuma Border Patrol Sector spokesman.
The train crossing is on Paloma Road, about nine miles west of Gila Bend near Interstate 8, he said.
The two agents were on duty at the time of the crash, said Agent Victor Brabble, an agency spokesman.
The two agents were rushing to help other agents pursuing a group of suspected illegal immigrants when they crashed, Quillin said.
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The Union Pacific train, with 75 cars, was westbound after leaving Phoenix. It was going about 62 mph when it hit the SUV, pushing it about a half-mile down the track.
Before the collision, the train engineers spotted the SUV on the access road and "sounded a horn a quarter-mile" before the crossing, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said at an afternoon news conference. Union Pacific said in a statement its crew had no warning that the SUV would turn in front of the train. It did not elaborate.
Clark, a Yuma native, began his career with Border Patrol in 2001 and was assigned as a lead agent in Yuma. He is survived by his wife and two children, Quillin said.
Rojas started with Border Patrol in 2000 and was also a lead agent in the Yuma Sector. He was a native of El Paso and is survived by his wife and two children, Quillin said.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency investigating the incident, with assistance from the FBI.
"It's sad any time you lose somebody in our organization," said George McCubbin, president of the National Border Patrol Council.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano issued a statement saying: "The entire DHS family expresses our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of these agents."
Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne also expressed sadness over the loss, saying he joins all Arizonans in mourning the deaths.
The Associated Press contributed. Contact reporter Fernanda Echavarri at fechavarri@azstarnet.com or 573-4224.
