7 guardsmen injured in military vehicle accident at Fort Chaffee

FORT CHAFFEE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Arkansas National Guard says seven guardsmen were injured in a military vehicle accident at Fort Chaffee on Monday. ANG said in a news release that around 11 a.m., seven soldiers were injured, including one seriously, when three vehicles were involved in an accident during a training exercise. The soldier with serious injuries was airlifted to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. They underwent surgery and were in stable condition as of 3 p.m. The other six soldiers were taken to a Fort Smith hospital with minor injuries. ANG said the vehicles involved in the crash were Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMMT), a 10-ton tactical truck used by the U.S. Army for logistics and heavy transport. The release said the soldiers involved are part of the 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, which is based in Northwest Arkansas and regularly trains in Fort Chaffee. Officials are investigating the cause of the crash, and ANG said that after the accident, a brigade-wide safety stand down went into effect to focus on hazard prevention, review safety procedures and reinforce safety training. The brigade's training is slated to run through May 16.