FORT SMITH, Ark. — Eight soldiers were injured after a military vehicle accident at Fort Chaffee, according to a news release from the Arkansas National Guard.
The crash occurred Monday morning around 11 a.m. during a training exercise. According to the release, three heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks (HEMMTs) were involved.
Officials said the vehicles were traveling along a dirt road when the accident happened. Dust in the air reduced visibility, preventing drivers from seeing clearly when one of the trucks stopped.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
“The road’s dusty conditions. I’m sure that has probably something to do with what happened,” said Col. Joel Lynch, State Public Affairs Officer with the Arkansas National Guard. “But anyhow, the first vehicle stopped, second vehicle didn’t react in time and hit the first vehicle. Then that third vehicle in that convoy hit the second vehicle. And somewhere in there we had all the injuries and we had the one soldier seriously injured.” They had to use the jaws for life to to, to pry him out of the, the, the cab because it was damaged to that point. So that’s where he sustained some serious injuries on his back and his leg, I believe, as well.”
Seven soldiers were transported to Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith with minor injuries, while one was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville with serious injuries.
The soldier who was airlifted to Washington Regional underwent surgery. Officials later transferred that individual to a hospital in Springfield, Missouri, where the soldier is now in stable condition.
The other seven soldiers were released from Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith on Monday and returned to duty.
As of Tuesday, May 5, one soldier remains in stable condition at a Springfield hospital.
Officials identified the soldiers as members of the 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard, based in Northwest Arkansas.