Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Killed In Early Morning Wreck

A Texas Highway Patrol trooper was killed Saturday morning in far east El Paso after a two-vehicle crash.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 32-year-old Javier Arana Jr. was responding to a pursuit call when his patrol vehicle was hit by a truck around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Joe Battle Boulevard and Bob Hope Drive.

DPS officials said the patrol car caught fire and Arana died at the scene.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Arana’s family and friends,? said DPS Director Steven McCraw.

Arana is the 87th DPS employee to die in the line of duty.

The driver of the truck, 18-year-old Edgardo Antonio Flores, was taken to Del Sol Medical Center. The the passenger of the truck, 20-year-old Josue Alejandro Guerrero, was taken to University Medical Center.

No word as of the cause of the wreck.