Border agent on duty dies in ATV crash, Arizona cops say. ‘Stark reminder’

A 44-year-old Border Patrol agent died in an on-duty ATV crash, Arizona sheriff’s officials reported.

The agent was responding to a report of possible undocumented immigrants near Douglas when his ATV left the road and struck a light pole at about 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The agent, identified as Freddy Ortiz, died of his injuries at a hospital, officials said.

“U.S. Border Patrol Agent Freddy’s Ortiz’s on-duty death is a tragedy and a stark reminder of the dangerous nature of our mission,” John Modlin, chief patrol agent for the Tucson Sector, said in the release.

“It is an incredibly sad day for our brothers and sisters in Border Patrol and we have only the highest level of respect for the job these brave souls do every single day,” Sheriff Mark Dannels said in the release.

Douglas is about 230 miles southeast of Phoenix on the U.S.-Mexico border.

This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Border agent on duty dies in ATV crash, Arizona cops say. ‘Stark reminder’."