Buford soldier killed during training

A soldier killed Monday in a rollover crash during training was identified as a 22-year-old combat engineer from Buford, Army Times reported.

Spc. Octavious Lakes Jr. was in a Bradly fighting vehicle that rolled over during a rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., according to a news release obtained by Army Times.

Lakes enlisted out of Buford in March 2017, and he had been at the Fort Hood military base in Texas since June that year, the release said. His awards include two Army Achievement medals, a Global War on Terror Expeditionary medal and a Global War on Terrorism service medal.

“On behalf of Greywolf soldiers and families, Command Sgt. Maj. (Alfred) Ronneburg and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Spc. Octa- vious Lakes,” Col. Kevin Capra, commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Divi- sion, said in the release. “His dedication, professionalism and spirit will be missed, but never forgotten.”

Three other soldiers were also injured in the incident, Fort Hood spokesman Kenneth Drylie told Army Times. Two were treated for injuries at the training center’s on-post hospital, while the third person was flown to Loma Linda, Calif., for fur- ther treatment.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Spc. Octavious Lakes Jr., 22, died in a rollover crash.