LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A fire was reported 13 miles north of Laredo Tuesday afternoon, July 16, sparked by a crash between two tractor-trailers at North Unitec and Cabezut, according to the Laredo Police Department.

The area, surrounded by warehouses, saw both vehicles fully engulfed around 4:30 p.m., emitting thick smoke visible from afar.

The incident led authorities to close off northbound traffic on North Unitec Drive as emergency responders worked to manage the blaze and clear the scene.

Police confirmed no injuries from the incident and have advised the public to avoid the area while emergency crews respond.

ALICE, Tex. (KGNS) - A three-vehicle crash involving two tractor trailers was reported in Alice, Texas leaving two injured and one in critical condition.

On July 15, at 2:45 a.m. a tractor trailer traveling southbound on US-281 at County Road 129 had its tire blown out causing the truck to tip to its side and spill its contents onto the highway.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the entire southbound lane of US-281 was blocked off and the driver, 48-year-old Ricardo Betancourt of Mission, Texas was left injured.

Witnessing the accident, 67-year-old Mitchell Reinitz of McAllen, Texas stopped their personal vehicle to help Betancourt.

As Reinitz was giving assistance, a second freightliner traveling southbound on US-281 struck the initial overturned trailer injuring Reinitz in the process, as well as injuring the driver of the second trailer, 38-year-old Jeffrey Walker of San Antonio.

The accident caused the southbound lanes of US-281 to be closed off for several hours as investigators and first responders came to the scene. The road was reopened at around 10 a.m.

Betancourt and Walker were transported to a local hospital. Both with severe injuries but are currently in stable condition.

Reinitz was initially transported to a hospital in Alice as well but was then transferred to a hospital in Corpus Christi where he remains in critical condition.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - To stop drugs and human smuggling from crossing into other cities or counties around the country, the U.S. Border Patrol has received a new piece of technology, the first of its kind, at the I-35 checkpoint.

Tractor-trailers are inspected one by one at the I-35 checkpoint. The process used to check commercial vehicles has been in place for years, but this new addition will make the process much quicker. Currently, Border Patrol reports over 12,000 tractor-trailers coming through the I-35 checkpoint.

This new X-ray machine will help agents find any type of drugs or people hidden in tractor-trailers that are being moved north into the U.S.

“It’s the most up-to-date upgraded technology within U.S. Border Patrol. This is the first border patrol station to get one,” said Jaime Fierro, Patrol Agent in Charge for Laredo North.

The new multi-energy portal can thoroughly inspect thousands of tractor-trailers daily.

“It also facilitates the trade and travel. It expedites it as the technology is meant to. It can inspect the capabilities of 150 vehicles at a time per hour,” Fierro added.

The X-ray machine will be placed at the busiest checkpoint across the U.S. So far, U.S. Border Patrol has reported 200 offenses involving commercial trucks with approximately 4,000 arrests.

“This piece of equipment will help us in those rescues, making sure we do everything possible from our point to ensure a safe commute from Laredo and this area of the United States,” said Fierro.

X-ray machines like this one have been placed at local ports of entry to also provide safe and expedited examinations.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection remind the public of the importance of bringing freon cannisters to the U.S. as they are illegal.

Freon cannisters are used for air conditioning, insulation, and fire extinguishing systems.

However, freon can cause harm to the environment as well as being more potent than carbon dioxide in some cases according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Bringing items such as freon to the U.S. can result in the transporting individuals being fined or have their vehicles taken away.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A man has been arrested in connection to a murder in Irving, Texas. He was apprehended north of Laredo in Medina County.

The arrest occurred when the Laredo Border Patrol Tactical Unit and the Texas Department of Public Safety assisted the Medina County Sheriff’s Office during an attempted traffic stop. The suspect initially brought the vehicle to a stop but then exited the car and fled on foot.

Law enforcement tracked down the suspect and, upon checking his ID, discovered he was a suspect in a murder investigation in Irving, located just north of Dallas. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A mountain lion spotted in south Laredo Thursday morning, July 11, was shot and killed by officials after a homeowner found the animal on his property and reported it to police the next day.

The chain of events began a day after a video of the mountain lion went viral in the Laredo community. The animal was found resting at a home on Friday, July 12, near the 100 block of Crest Lane.

“In the morning, I was watching the news with my niece and saw that it was in Laredo, but I would never imagine that it would be here,” said Walter Ramos, who found the animal on his property.

Ramos, a carpenter living in South Laredo, said he was walking into his back workshop around 8 a.m. when he spotted the large animal in the brush. “Of course I got scared. He was so big,” Ramos added.

Fearing for his life and the lives of his parents, Ramos called law enforcement to contain the animal.

“We were able to come and get here immediately and it was cornered into a wall back here at this residence,” said Investigator Joe Baeza of the Laredo Police Department.

Officers arrived at the scene and quickly set up a perimeter. “You don’t know how an animal, whose nature is kind of wild, is going to act when it’s trapped. It could be very defensive, could have attacked someone, and what are you going to do if an animal jumps on a pedestrian or a child,” Baeza said.

Police prioritized protecting the large number of people in the area. “The animal became agitated. It’s part of its instinct of survivability. It wound up becoming aggressive from what I’m being told by officers and that’s when officers had no choice. It was looking for a way out,” Baeza explained.

Hours later, Laredo police and the game warden opened fire, resulting in the death of the animal. “It’s an unfortunate outcome. Our priority, our mission is to save lives. A beautiful animal like this one -- it’s a shame that we didn’t have a more positive outcome but it was done for the safety and security of the residences,” Baeza stated.

In a statement, the Laredo Police Department clarified the situation: “A veteran LPD Patrol Sergeant and a State Game Warden shot the mountain lion. The plan was to tranquilize the animal. While waiting for that to arrive, the animal jumped out of a fenced area where the officers had corralled the mountain lion in, and unfortunately, this left the officers with little option available. Our intent was to preserve all life and save the animal as well.”

The use of force is currently under investigation by Laredo police. No injuries were reported.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, mountain lions are not exotic animals; they are a native species in Texas.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Police have finally arrested a teenager in connection with a series of car break-ins in West Laredo. Eliazar Aaron Sanchez, 17, had 10 arrest warrants related to vehicle burglaries.

Sanchez was arrested on July 3 for these crimes, which stemmed from incidents in February. Police responded to a burglary on Convent Avenue, prompting investigations into multiple vehicle break-ins. Sanchez was identified as a suspect during the investigations.

He now faces charges linked to these incidents.