East Grand Forks combat vet dies in motorcycle crash

[UpInArms]

(Mods: usually an automobile accident is not LBN, but please note the other links that I am including with this post - you decide, I'll abide)

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/11691845.htm

Marine Cpl. Riley Pape, 22, of East Grand Forks, died Thursday in a motorcycle accident in San Diego while stationed with 1st Reconnaissance Bravo Co. at Camp Pendleton.

Pape was a decorated combat veteran who survived a tour of duty in Iraq and was less than 30 days from being released from active duty.

In May 2001, Pape graduated from East Grand Forks Senior High and Sept. 14, 2001, three days after terrorists attacked his country, he completed Marine Corps boot camp.

In November 2004, Pape sat down with a Herald reporter and talked about his experiences in the Middle East.

...more...

Driver killed on State Road 53

http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2005/05/20/news/news8.txt

CIBOLA COUNTY - According to Cibola County Undersheriff Johnny Valdez, a man was killed in a single-car, single-person vehicle accident Saturday at around 8:30 p.m.

Staff Sergeant (SSGT) Jeffrey Scott Palmer, 52, of Oso Ridge Road in the Zuni Canyon area, and also of Red Bluff, Calif., was driving eastbound on New Mexico State Road 53 at about mile marker 60 when he lost control of his car and flipped it, possibly twice. The force of the impact ejected Palmer from the vehicle.

Emergency Medical Services transported Palmer to Cibola General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Valdez said the Sheriff's Office is awaiting toxicology results, but preliminary findings indicate that alcohol as well as high speed may be factors in the accident.

SSGT Palmer recently returned from Iraq where he served as a 63c heavy wheel mechanic with the 1115th Transportation Company out of Taos. Palmer is survived by his daughter, Holly Palmer of Chico, Calif.

...more...

Troop trainer dies in crash

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/local/11691558.htm

HATTIESBURG - An Army sergeant who helped train troops at Camp Shelby has been killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 59 in Forrest County.

Master Sgt. Albert Clark Jr., 40, died Wednesday when his car was struck from behind by an 18-wheeler and pinned underneath a tractor-trailer truck in front of him.

"He was an outstanding soldier," said Col. Daniel Zajac, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 87th Training Support Division. "He was one of the key developers of our ground assault convoy training. He was slated to become the senior noncommissioned officer of his battalion."

Clark was assigned to the brigade's 1st Battalion, 305th Regiment under the command of Lt. Col. William Wolfarth.

<snip>

Clark, a native of Chicago, had been assigned to the 1st/305th since June 2002. His wife and four children live in Hattiesburg.

...more...

Two soldiers killed in motorcycle accident mourned at Hanau

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29206

HANAU, Germany — The Hanau military community mourned two soldiers Wednesday and Thursday who both died in a motorcycle wreck last week on a highway near Büdingen, Germany.

Military police officials said Sgt. Dale L. Neal, 33, of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment and Staff Sgt. Darnell D. Wiggins, 31, of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 565th Engineer Battalion, were traveling at a high rate of speed when they were killed Friday. They died instantly when they struck a guardrail.

A memorial for Neal, the driver and owner of the motorcycle, was held at the Fliegerhorst Casern Chapel Wednesday.

Neal’s wife, Gayle, broke out in tears as his battalion commander recalled approving the sergeant’s application to become an Army recruiter. When Lt. Col. Robert Baer asked Neal why he wanted the duty, Neal did not offer the typical reply that it was a good career move, Baer said.

“After 12 months in South Korea and 15 months in Iraq, he just wanted to be with his family,” Baer said.

...more...

[DrDebug]

1. This is in reference to the fact that veterans ...

have a significantly higher casualty rate?

[UpInArms]

2. there is that possibility

and IIRC there have been some studies that conclude (though there may be mitigating factors) that the perceptions of newly discharged (or on leave, etc) military may not be in line with actual danger from reckless behaviors.

[DS1]

3. Seatbelts, people.

It's takes 2 seconds. What a waste.

[SouthernDem2004]

4. Problem is they get home with alot of money and buy toys that can kill.

[Voltaire99]

5. RIP. And let their families remember...

...they might be alive today were it not for our politicians who tell lies and our politicians who believe them.

[rainbow4321]

6. And another...

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/militaryconnection/4391293/detail.html

An Oceanside Marine and two of his family members died on a Los Angeles freeway Sunday when the man's car slammed into a highway median and was hit by a big rig. The accident left another family member -- the Marine's 5-year-old daughter -- in critical condition.

The 30-year-old Marine was driving at a "high rate of speed" while merging onto Interstate 5 north coming from Magic Mountain Parkway west, according to the California Highway Patrol. He veered erratically while entering the freeway, hitting a wall on the east side of the freeway and spinning around before being hit by the big rig.

The Marine, his wife and his 8-year-old son died at Newhall Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital, according to the CHP. The daughter was transported to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The adults were wearing seat belts and the children were buckled into child safety seats. Another car was involved in the accident, but the driver and her daughter only suffered minor injuries.