Thursday, July 16, 2015

Soldier dies, another critically injured near Fort Hood, Texas after falling from truck and again after the truck crashed on its way to the hospital



Front gate at Fort Hood
BANGOR, Maine -- A soldier from Surry died last week after the pickup truck he was riding in crashed while taking him to the hospital for treatment of injuries he incurred when he and another soldier were thrown from the bed during a hunting trip near Fort Hood, Texas, where he was stationed, according to the spokesman for the Bell County (Texas) Sheriff's Department.

Army Spc. Jason D. Kane, 24, was hunting feral hogs in Killeen, Texas, with three other soldiers before the fatal accident occurred on July 6, Lt. T.J. Cruz said Tuesday.

Kane and the other soldier who was injured were riding in the back of a pickup truck and two others were riding in the cab, Cruz said. When the truck reached the gate of the property on which they were hunting, with permission, the two in the cab discovered that Kane and the other soldier were no longer in the truck.

Cruz said the two doubled back to search for their missing friends, located them and put them back inside the truck. The truck, however, crashed en route to the hospital, Cruz said.

Kane was dead on arrival at the hospital, according to media reports in Texas. Another soldier in the hunting party remains in critical condition, Cruz said.
The Army Times reported that Kane served with the 47th Ordnance Disposal Company, 79th Ordnance Battalion, since February 2012. He began his time in uniform in November 2010 and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from March to November 2014.

He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal, among other honors, the release stated.

No one has been charged in connection with the incident, which remains under investigation, Cruz said. He said results are pending.