By Capt. Shamari Pratt, Operation Ardent Vanguard

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas — Three Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers, 252nd Engineer Company assigned to the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Joint Task Force – Southern Border (JTF-SB) in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, responded to a serious single-vehicle rollover while conducting a routine patrol, providing immediate assistance until local authorities arrived.

While patrolling in the Rio Grande Valley on July 9, 2026, Spc. Dakota James, Sgt. Dallas Girardi and Staff Sgt. Alexander Rupert witnessed a civilian vehicle veer off the roadway, strike a road sign and roll multiple times before coming to rest upside down in a roadside ditch.

As the crash unfolded, Girardi and Rupert rushed to the overturned vehicle to assist the occupants. “Upon reaching the vehicle, Rupert and I forced open the driver’s side door, allowing the driver to exit safely,” Girardi said.

After observing the individual attempt to walk around the scene, the Soldiers instructed the driver to remain seated to reduce the risk of aggravating any potential injuries.

Rupert and Girardi conducted an initial assessment for signs of shock, visible bleeding, broken bones, and other serious injuries while continuously monitoring the driver until emergency responders arrived.

“Training takes over in situations like this,” Rupert said. “Our priority was making sure the driver was safe, keeping them calm and preventing any additional injuries until medical personnel could take over.”

James maintained communication with responding Border Patrol agents, providing directions that enabled them to arrive at the scene within about five minutes of the rollover.

“Our job is to stay alert and respond when people need help,” James said. “Once we realized there had been an accident, my focus was on getting first responders to the location as quickly as possible. My teammates helped the driver and checked for injuries.”

Border Patrol agents, Texas Highway Patrol troopers and emergency medical personnel arrived shortly afterward. The Soldiers briefed responding authorities on the circumstances of the incident before transferring responsibility for the scene.

“It was a team effort,” Girardi said. “Everyone knew their role. We worked together to get the driver out safely, assess the situation and provide accurate information to the responding agencies.”

The Soldiers are assigned to Joint Task Force – Southern Border, which supports federal and state partners during Operation Ardent Vanguard. Their rapid response and adherence to emergency procedures helped ensure the motorist received prompt care while maintaining coordination with local and federal first responders.