Border Patrol agent and National Guard soldiers identified

LA GRULLA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The United States Customs and Border Protection has identified the two soldiers and agent who died in Friday's helicopter crash.

Border Patrol Agent Chris Luna, National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia were aboard when the helicopter crashed.

Another soldier was also aboard when the incident occurred. The soldier is reported to be in critical condition at a McAllen hospital.

A news release from Fort Bliss, located in El Paso, says the UH-72 Lakota helicopter was assigned to the federal Southwest border support mission when it crashed just before 4 p.m.

Texas Department of Public Safety South Texas Regional Director Victor Escalon said the helicopter was not part of Operation Lone Star, Governor Greg Abbott’s border security initiative to secure the border.

Starr County Judge Eloy Vera told Border Report the chopper came down in a rural area.

“It did go down, it was a clean field so we don’t know what could have caused it, but its under investigation,” Vera said.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Executive Digital Producer Steven Masso contributed to this report.