A man lost his life while trying to flee on foot from agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the state of Florida, authorities announced on Tuesday.

The man was killed when he was struck by a semi-truck as he ran to escape agents in a gas station parking lot, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Highway Patrol announced, noting that the details are still preliminary.

Three other people who were riding with him in the car also fled the scene, according to authorities.

The fatal incident occurred near the tourist town of St. Augustine.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the German Press Agency that the man who lost his life was a Mexican national. The spokesperson referred to a law enforcement operation, avoiding any specific mention of ICE.

According to a statement from the Florida Highway Patrol, agents from ICE and the Internal Security Investigations Division—which is responsible for investigating cross-border crimes—participated in the operation. No further details have been provided.

This is at least the third death recorded during ICE operations within a span of a few days, based on the information available so far.

An ICE agent shot and killed a Mexican father in Houston, Texas, last week, while a similar incident occurred this week in Biddeford, Maine, claiming the life of a 26-year-old Colombian immigrant who, according to reports, was mistakenly targeted.

The latest deaths have intensified outrage in the U.S. against the agency, which is responsible for enforcing President Donald Trump’s policy to combat illegal immigration.

ICE agents, who are usually heavily armed and often have their faces covered, are tasked with carrying out the mass deportation campaign sought by the Republican president.

The agency has faced intense criticism for its methods, which many describe as excessively aggressive or even barbaric, particularly following the deaths of two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Preti, in Minneapolis earlier this year, as well as the release of videos that cast doubt on the official account of the events.

Source: KYPE