Third Death in a Week as Man Fleeing US Immigration Agents Killed by Truck in Florida
A 28-year-old man was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on Tuesday in St. Augustine, Florida, after fleeing from an encounter with US immigration and federal agents, authorities said. The incident marks the third death in about a week involving encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the man was among four occupants of a vehicle that stopped at a gas station and convenience store shortly before 7 a.m. Agents from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations approached the vehicle, prompting all four to flee on foot. One of them, the 28-year-old, ran across a busy road and into the path of a semi-truck. The driver of the semi stopped and attempted to assist the man, according to Sergeant Dylan Bryan of the Florida Highway Patrol.
The other three individuals were taken into custody, but their identities and any charges have not been disclosed. The deceased's name has not been released pending notification of family.
This death follows two other fatal encounters with ICE agents in recent days. In Texas, a man was shot and killed during an operation, and in Maine, another individual died in a shooting involving ICE agents. Details of those incidents remain limited, and investigations are ongoing.
ICE has not issued a public statement regarding the Florida incident or the other deaths. The agency typically refrains from commenting on ongoing operations.
The series of deaths has raised questions about enforcement tactics and the risks involved in such encounters. Advocates for immigrant rights have called for greater transparency and accountability. However, federal authorities emphasize that agents act within the law and that each incident is subject to review.
The Florida Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the traffic death. No further details have been released.
