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Roman Garza Jr.

Age : 50

Gender : Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 04/15/2022

Location : U.S. Highway 281 north of San Manuel, continuing approximately 14.5 miles

City : San Manuel area

County : Hidalgo

State : Texas

Agency : U.S. Border Patrol; Texas Department of Public Safety

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: A U.S. Border Patrol agent initiated the pursuit after observing Garza’s white pickup on U.S. Highway 281 north of San Manuel and suspecting that it was being used for human smuggling. The agent followed the pickup while requesting records checks, then activated emergency lights and siren when attempting to stop it.
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NARRATIVE:
On 04/15/2022, 50-year-old Roman Garza Jr. of Harlingen was killed when the 2020 GMC Sierra he was driving rolled over during a pursuit involving U.S. Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety in Hidalgo County. A 24-year-old Honduran woman riding in the vehicle was also killed, and six other occupants survived with injuries.
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At approximately 7:46 p.m., a Border Patrol agent was parked in the median of U.S. Highway 281 north of San Manuel when the agent observed Garza’s pickup and suspected it was being used for human smuggling. The agent followed the truck while requesting records checks. At approximately 7:47 p.m., the agent activated emergency lights and siren and initiated the pursuit.
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The pickup traveled a short distance before crossing the highway median and continuing south. The Border Patrol agent reported the pickup traveling approximately 75 mph and notified a supervisory agent of the pursuit.
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At approximately 7:50 p.m., a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper encountered the pursuit near U.S. Highway 281 and El Rucio Road and took over as the primary pursuing vehicle. The Border Patrol agent continued behind the DPS unit.
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The pursuit continued for approximately 14.5 miles. At approximately 7:56 p.m., the pickup exited U.S. Highway 281 and continued east. The Border Patrol agent reported losing sight of the pickup but continuing to see the emergency lights of the pursuing DPS vehicle.
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At approximately 7:58 p.m., the Border Patrol agent saw the DPS trooper’s brake lights. Less than a minute later, the agent reached the crash site and found the pickup overturned.
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Garza died from his injuries. A 24-year-old Honduran woman was ejected from the vehicle and pinned beneath it and also died. Six additional occupants survived with non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospitals.
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Garza’s identity was confirmed by Texas DPS and independently corroborated by his obituary. Roman Garza Jr., 50, of Harlingen died Friday, 04/15/2022. Funeral arrangements were handled by McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco, with visitation on April 27 and funeral Mass on April 28 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mercedes.
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The crash and pursuit were investigated by Texas DPS and Homeland Security Investigations and reviewed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility. The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General was also notified.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Border Patrol agent who initiated the pursuit and the Texas DPS trooper who became the primary pursuing officer were not publicly identified in the verified sources located.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.krgv.com/news/two-dead-multiple-injured-after-rollover-crash-in-hidalgo-county
https://sanangelolive.com/news/crime/2022-04-29/dps-investigates-fatal-crash-likely-human-traffickers
https://www.mccalebfuneralhome.com/obituaries/roman-garza-5/obituary
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/valleystar/name/roman-garza-obituary?id=34338221
https://www.southernborder.org/deaths_by_border_patrol