Deadly Fort Hood flooding: What we know now

Credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez

Credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez

Update: The commanding general of the U.S. Army said at Friday morning press conference that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the death of five Fort Hood soldiers who were swept away in floodwaters Thursday during a training exercise on the sprawling Texas post.

Gen. Robert B. Abrams called their deaths a “profound tragedy” that will be investigated to “better understand the circumstances and how to avoid this as we go forward,” according to his statement Friday.

Four soldiers are still missing after their light-medium personnel carrier flipped while traveling through a low water crossing during a convoy-training exercise. Three soldiers were rescued and were recovering at a hospital on Fort Hood, officials said.

The search continued overnight with search dogs assisting, a Fort Hood spokesman said. The area of Owl Creek where the incident happened was not a designated low water crossing, Fort Hood spokesman Chris Haug said.

Earlier:

The bodies of five soldiers have been recovered from a swollen creek, and rescuers are searching for four other soldiers after a troop carrier overturned at a low-water crossing at the Fort Hood military post near Killeen, Texas, Thursday morning.

Three other soldiers are in stable condition after being rescued from the water near the overturned vehicle at the Owl Creek Tactical low-water crossing and East Range Road.

The soldiers were riding in a light medium tactical unit and taking part in training exercises at the time of the mishap, Master Sgt. Mary Mittlesteadt, said Fort Hood spokeswoman.

Aircraft, a canine team, heavy ground equipment and swift-water rescue watercraft are taking part in the effort to find the missing soldiers.

The emergency response began around 11:20 a.m. CDT with a swift-water rescue call. Owl Creek is about 12 miles northeast of the main Fort Hood area.

The six missing soldiers are from the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Fort Hood officials said the names of the deceased will not be released until 24 hours after all next of kin have been notified.

One of the world’s largest military installations, Fort Hood covers more than 342 square miles, including 196,000 acres of range and training area. The on-post population, including soldiers, civilians and family members, was about 74,000 as of October.

Read updates here.

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