A U.S. Army soldier training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky was killed and another soldier was injured when they were struck by a military vehicle during training on Thursday.
The deceased soldier has since been identified as Spc. James Roberts, 26, according to a press release provided to The Associated Press on Friday.
Roberts was a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and was assigned to 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, which is situated on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.
The deadly military vehicle incident took place at around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday. The other injured soldier was treated for their injuries and has since been released from a hospital.
The military base provided few additional details about the incident and the case is currently under investigation.
Roberts joined the Army in 2018 and trained in military intelligence. He was deployed for seven months in 2020 along the U.S.-Mexico border. Roberts’ awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Roberts is survived by a wife and son and by his mother.
Roberts’ squadron commander, Lt. Col. Jason T. Shuff said, “Our prayers, thoughts, and abiding support are with the Roberts family. Spc. Roberts was a beloved member of our intelligence section, and a friend to many in the squadron. His loss leaves a scar on our hearts.”
Deaths involving military vehicles are not uncommon.
A soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was also killed and four more soldiers were injured in an accident involving a military vehicle in October.
In June, another Fort Bragg soldier was driving a military truck in a convoy with other military vehicles on their way to a training range on Raeford Vass Road when he was killed in a crash. Two other soldiers were injured in that same accident.
A U.S. Air Force airman was killed in a vehicle crash involving pedestrians on Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi in July. Three more people were injured in that incident.
