Woman falls from Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 injuring herself

By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013

An undocumented woman, Juana Casimiro, age 44, fell from the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 on Saturday, September 21, 2013, at approximately 7:17 P.M. while attempting to climb down from the bridge tying a rope at the top and lowering herself to the ground but Casimiro hands slipped falling onto the ground. Casimiro was accompanied by a male adult person in this extremely dangerous attempt to enter the United States by using a rope tied to the top of the local international bridge.

The Eagle Pass Police Department received a 911 telephone call regarding a woman injured on Ryan Street and proceeded to the location finding Casimiro lying on the ground and injured. An ambulance from the Eagle Pass Fire Department was summoned and Casimiro was transported to the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries, including a broken hip and right leg.

During recent years, undocumented aliens have tried to climb down the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 using ropes and attempting to rappel down to the ground to gain entry into the United States at the Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico border. Most of the attempts have resulted in injuries such as Ms. Casimiro but one or two have successfully rappelled down to the ground only to be detained by the always vigilant U.S. Border Patrol officers on the banks of the Rio Grande River.

It is unknown if the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System plans any safety modifications to the existing fence at the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 to deter or prevent similar attempts in the future.

Upon Casimiro’s release from her medical treatment, she was detained by the U.S. Border Patrol for illegal entry into the United States.