A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper has died after a two-vehicle crash in El Paso.
The DPS said Trooper Javier Arana Jr., 32, was responding to a pursuit call shortly before 1:30 a.m. Saturday when his patrol car was struck at an intersection by a Ford Ranger.
The DPS vehicle caught fire, and Arana died at the scene.
The driver of the Ford Ranger, 18-year-old Edgardo Antonio Flores, was taken to Del Sol Medical Center. His passenger, 20-year-old Josue Alejandro Guerrero, was transported to University Medical Center.
Officials are investigating. Arana graduated from the DPS Academy in November 2010 and was stationed in El Paso. He is survived by a wife and children.
Arana is the 87th DPS employee to die in the line of duty.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Arana's family and friends,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw.
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On Saturday, the Denton Police Department sent this tweet: "Denton PD employees want to extend their thoughts & prayers to the family & friends of Trooper Arana who was killed this morning @TxDPS."
