Border Patrol Helicopter Lands in Middle of Busy Intersection—It’s Immediately Clear Something Is Wrong (VIDEOs)

Dramatic video captured a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter landing on a busy road in La Mesa, California.

This from westernjournal.com.

With respect to the May 9 incident, KNSD-TV in San Diego reported:

Moments after it landed, an agent exited the aircraft running with a wounded K-9 in his arms.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent Esteffany Solano said:

Boo was out there doing his job, tracking a group that crossed illegally, and unfortunately, he got bit by a rattlesnake.

The helicopter landed near the intersection of Grossmont Boulevard and Jackson Drive.

KFMB-TV in San Diego reported:

Bewildered bystanders at first didn’t know what to think.

Nessa Lene, a La Mesa resident who recorded video of the incident, later recounted:

I didn’t know what was going on, then I saw the dog, and I just started crying. I’m a dog person—I just hoped he was okay.

Another witness said traffic stopped in all directions.

Tyler Oder, who works at a shop near the landing site, stated:

I just saw the helicopter drop briefly, guy run out with the dog in his hands—it was a German Shepherd—started running at us.

Further:

Traffic was halted, north, south, east and west.

Oder added:

The dog was panting. It was kind of sad, too.

Officers rushed the two-year-old dog to the Pet Emergency Specialty Center, where staff administered anti-venom and IV fluids.

Boo is stable, recovering, and under close observation.

Solano stated:

Boo is more than just a dog, he’s a federal agent, and he’s treated as one.

Further:

We’re thankful he was able to get the care he needed.

Dr. Jennifer Willey, the medical director at the pet emergency center, said snake bites are common this time of year.

Further:

We typically see two to three snakebite cases a day during peak summer.

And:

You’ll see pain, you’ll see swelling, sometimes we can find the actual punctures, and then there’s usually pretty distinct bruising that develops right away.