West Point accident: one cadet dead and 22 people injured after vehicle flips
One cadet from the elite US military training academy West Point was killed and 22 people were injured when a vehicle they were riding in for summer training overturned early on Thursday.
The US Military Academy said the vehicle overturned on a dirt road at about 6.45am local time in the area, about 60 miles north of New York City. Twenty army cadets and two soldiers on the light-medium tactical vehicle have been hurt.
Lt Col Christopher Ophardt could not immediately provide the severity of the injuries or the name of the cadet who died.
The accident occurred near Camp Natural Bridge, an area where cadet summer training takes place.
Ophardt said the investigation of the cause of the single-vehicle accident was continuing.
The elite military academy counts among its alumni former presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Ulysses Grant and legendary second world war generals Douglas MacArthur and George Patton. New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, said on WAMC public radio on Thursday morning that the number of fatalities could increase based on what he has been told.
“These are young people who are dedicating their lives,” said Cuomo. “It’s the anniversary of D-day . It really is a sad, sad moment.”
Classes ended for the year at West Point last month, but the academy runs summer military training exercises for cadets in the heavily wooded hills outside the main gates. The accident occurred as the vehicle was leaving Camp Natural Bridge, where trainees live during the summer.
It was the second cadet death at West Point this year. Cadet Peter Zhu died in February after a skiing accident. His parents made headlines afterward for their successful legal effort to retrieve his frozen sperm.
Donald Trump tweeted during his overseas trip: “So sorry to hear about the terrible accident involving our GREAT West Point Cadets. We mourn the loss of life and pray for the injured. God Bless them ALL!”