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Fort Hood Releases Names of Soldiers in Fatal Training Accident

Nine soldiers were killed when their tactical vehicle was washed away in a rain-swollen Texas creek.
Image: Fort Hood soldier Eddy Gates was killed in flooding in Fort Hood.
Fort Hood soldier Eddy Gates was killed in flooding in Fort Hood.Courtesy Gates family

Fort Hood officials released the names of eight of the nine soldiers killed Thursday when their tactical vehicle was washed away in a rain-swollen Texas creek.

Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Colonvazquez, Spc. Christine Faith Armstrong, Pfc. Brandon Austin Banner, Pfc. Zachery Nathaniel Fuller, Pvt. Isaac Lee Deleon, Pvt. Eddy Raelaurin Gates, Pvt. Tysheena Lynette James, and Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey died in the accident. The base posted biographical information on each of the victims on Facebook.

The name of the last soldier who died will be be released once next of kin is formally notified.

Related: Nine Fort Hood Soldiers Dead, Three Out of Hospital

Three other soldiers who were in the Light Medium Tactical Vehicle when it overturned in Owl Creek survived.

An investigation into the accident is underway. Fort Hood spokesman Chris Haug said Friday that soldiers were conducting a routine training exercise, and the unit of 12 soldiers had been learning how to drive the vehicle. The road they had been driving on "was designated a low-water crossing," Haug said.

It was the wettest March-May period on record for that part of Texas, and as much as 3 inches of rain per hour had fallen in the area around Fort Hood at the time of the accident.