A drunken border patrol agent allegedly crashed into a Uvalde, Texas crossing guard — then sped away from the scene outside an elementary school Tuesday morning, officials said.
The crossing guard was hit by a driver around 8 a.m. on Tuesday outside of Flores Elementary School — about two miles from Robb Elementary School, where 19 students and two teachers were gunned down in 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
Parents who witnessed the crash called police as the driver fled while the injured crossing guard was lying on the ground. He was taken to Uvalde Memorial Hospital where he’s in stable condition, DPS told News4SA.
Soon after, Texas Customs and Border Patrol Agent Juan Francisco Perez was pulled over, arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated with an open container and failure to stop and render aid, officials said.
CBP confirmed the hit-and-run in a statement to The Post. They said it remains under investigation by DPS and is currently under review by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
“CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe,” a spokesperson said. “An arrest is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Ashley Chohlis issued a letter to the school community about the incident and asked they keep the crossing guard, only identified as “Mr. Juarez,” in their thoughts as he recovers.
“During the morning drop-off time, a vehicle hit Mr. Juarez while he was on duty. I want to extend my gratitude to the school administration for their quick response and especially to our nurse who provided immediate medical attention until EMS arrived to assess Mr. Juarez’s condition,” Chohlis said.
“This incident is a stark reminder of the critical need for attentive, cautious driving, especially in areas frequented by pedestrians, such as school campuses,” she added.
The Post has reached out to the school district for comment.