Border Patrol and dance community are grieving Yuma agent

A longtime border patrol agent lost his life while on his way to work at the Blythe Border Patrol Station when his vehicle rolled over.

Colleagues and loved ones are now grieving his loss.

“It was always good working with Sergio because you knew you were going to laugh and have a good time,” said Mario Campos, President of National Border Patrol Council Local 2595.

Agent Lopez, a Yuma local, served the Blythe station for more than a decade and also served as a steward at the local Border Patrol Union.

“He was a union steward when he didn’t have to be. It’s a voluntary duty and that by nature, what you’re doing is helping others and standing up for those who don’t stand by themselves,” said Campos.

Not only was Agent Lopez serving our community on the front lines, but there was also a lighter side to him.

He liked to bust moves on the dance floor in Yuma at Fuego Dance Studio.

That is how his former dance partner wants to remember him.

“He enjoyed each genre from bachata, salsa, merengue, cumbia, and his favorite known was banda. Furthermore, he was very patient and caring when he danced when he danced with a person that was not very familiar with Latin dancing. He would put them at ease and would tell that if he could learn to dance anybody could,” said Mari Arzola.

His union colleagues add he had been traveling and had plans to continue to explore.

“I had heard from one of the agents the other day that he was planning to go sky diving here in the near future. He was preparing for that,” said Campos.

Agent Lopez will be laid to rest on Thursday and Friday by his loved ones.

A fellow border patrol agent at the Blythe station created a GoFundMe for Agent Lopez’s family, click here to donate.