The U.S. Army has released the names of two soldiers who were killed in a military vehicle accident near Salcha, Alaska, on Monday that resulted in two deaths and injuries to 12 other soldiers.
The 11th Airborne Division told American Military News in an email that Spc. Jeremy Daniel Evans and Spc. Brian Joshua Snowden of the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, was killed in Monday’s accident that occurred as 17 soldiers were riding in a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle in the Yukon Training Area in Alaska.
Evans was a 23-year-old soldier from Knoxville, Tennessee, who was trained at Fort Moore, Georgia, joined the Army in July of 2020, and was sent to Alaska in January of 2021. Snowden was a 22-year-old soldier from Lonedell, Missouri, who was also trained at Fort Moore, joined the Army in July 2020, and was sent to Alaska in March of 2021.
“We’re all grieving and kind of doing what we can to support the families,” Army spokesperson John Pennell said. “Anytime we lose our soldiers, it’s a tragic event for the family, for the fellow soldiers, for the soldiers’ friends. Essentially, the entire 11th Airborne Division family is grieving the loss of these two soldiers and preparing to step forward for the families they’ve left behind.”
The 11th Airborne Division told Military.com that the two soldiers were killed as a result of one of the convoy’s Light Medium Tactical Vehicles rolling over after the driver of the vehicle lost control at roughly 11 a.m.
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According to Military.com, first responders provided the injured soldiers with medical treatment at the scene of the accident and transported them to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, located approximately 30 miles from the accident site. Two of the injured soldiers were flown to Anchorage, located about 300 miles from the accident, due to the severity of their injuries.
Of the 12 soldiers injured in Monday’s accident, eight were released the same day by Fairbanks Memorial Hospital after receiving medical treatment. The Army told American Military News Wednesday that two soldiers remained in “stable condition” at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, while the remaining two soldiers were also in stable condition at Providence Alaska Medical Center.
“This is an incredible loss for all of us across the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in a statement to American Military News. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends, and fellow soldiers of Spc. Evans and Spc. Snowden. While we’re always challenged by the environment, we’re Arctic Angels, we overcome these challenges and accomplish our mission by being a team, and teams take care of one another, especially in times like these.”
The Army noted that the cause of Monday’s Light Medium Tactical Vehicle accident is currently under investigation.
