ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A 28-year-old man was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on Tuesday after fleeing an encounter with immigration officers at a gas station in the St. Augustine area, according to authorities. The incident occurred before 7 a.m. when four occupants of a vehicle stopped in the parking lot of a convenience store. During an interaction involving agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations, all four individuals fled on foot.
Details of the Fatal Collision
Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Dylan Bryan stated that one individual darted across a busy road into the path of an eastbound semi-truck traveling near Outlet Mall Boulevard and Inman Road. The driver of the truck stopped immediately and attempted to assist the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office provided images showing the shutdown of SR 16 eastbound lanes following the collision.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed in an emailed statement that it had conducted an operation resulting in the death of a Mexican national. While officials did not immediately clarify what prompted the specific encounter on Tuesday, they noted that state attorneys general and local law enforcement are investigating the incident. The status of the other three occupants remains unclear as investigations continue.
Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement Deaths
This fatality marks at least the third death in a week involving encounters with U.S. immigration agents, following separate incidents in Texas and Maine. It is also reported to be among 10 deaths linked to interactions with immigration officials since President Donald Trump launched his mass deportation campaign last year. The pattern of fatalities has drawn attention from state legislators and international governments.
State Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat representing Jacksonville, described the death as a tragedy resulting from an "out-of-control agency." She highlighted that similar outcomes have occurred in other states, including cases where individuals were struck by vehicles while fleeing enforcement operations. In response to these incidents, the Mexican government has requested that U.S. state attorneys general review deaths of migrants in ICE custody or during raids for possible criminal prosecution.
