An American soldier died and nine others were injured after a van carrying troops recently back from Afghanistan crashed on its way to a military base in Washington, the base said Friday.
The U.S. Army personnel were being driven from SeaTac airport to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Tacoma, Wa., when the van crashed at 4:30 p.m. Thursday (1:30 p.m. ET), base spokesman Lt. Col. Joe Sowers told NBC News.
Sowers said five troops were injured, one seriously, and four others were examined by medical crews. He said he did not know exactly how many troops were in the van but said he believed a handful of others escaped without injury.
The Bellingham Herlad reported that the soldier who died was 28 years old but Sowers said he could not confirm any personal details.