Agent's death 'devastating'

Stephanie Sanchez / El Paso TImes

Article Launched: 01/22/2008 12:13:42 AM MST

Senior Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar Jr. of El Paso who was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by suspected drug smugglers Saturday in southeastern California, was the first agent in the Yuma, Ariz., sector to die from a hostile act, officials said Monday.

Since the Yuma sector was established in 1954, eight agents have died in the line of duty. But none were from suspected smugglers, officials said. The others either drowned or were killed in automobile and aircraft accidents.

Aguilar, described by many as a man with "outstanding work ethic," was killed when he was trying to place spike strips in the path of a Hummer and a Ford pickup that had entered the country illegally, Yuma sector spokesman Michael Bernacke, said. Aguilar was struck by the Hummer and killed about 9 a.m. Saturday.

Placing the device on the ground requires supervisory approval, and Aguilar had gone through all the proper procedures, Bernacke said.

"He was doing his job as safely as he could," he said. "You have no control over the subject in the vehicle -- that was his intention."

Both vehicles fled the scene, near the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, about 20 miles west of Yuma.

In the El Paso sector, 18 agents have died in the line of duty but none of them as a result of hostile acts by assailants, officials said.