Texas’ ongoing flood took the lives of at least five Fort Hood soldiers when their vehicle was swept away while trying to cross a nearby creek.
The bodies of three soldiers were found Thursday morning when the truck overturned during a training exercise near Owl Creek. Fort Hood spokesman Chris Haug later confirmed the deaths of two additional soldiers Thursday evening. In addition to the five dead, three other soldiers were hospitalized with injuries and are currently in stable condition. Emergency personnel are still searching for four missing soldiers.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the soldiers their families and the Fort Hood community,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “The brave men and women stationed at Fort Hood put their life on the line every day, be it through rescue operations or on the battlefield. Texas will forever remain grateful for their sacrifices.”
The over two-ton truck carrying the soldiers overturned while attempting to traverse a low-water crossing at Owl Creek. Most of central and eastern Texas is currently under either a flood watch or warning due to intermittent heavy rains over the last two days. The severity of the downpour prompted Abbott to declare a state of emergency in 31 counties across the state. A total of six people are reported to have been killed in the flood thus far.
Fort Hood gained national attention in 2009 when Army Maj. Nidal Hassan went on a shooting rampage, killing 13. Another shooting occurred in 2014, when Army Spc. Ivan Lopez killed four.
The Army has yet to release the names of the soldiers killed in the flooding, as families are still being notified. All casualties belong to the 1st Cavalry Division, which is based in Fort Hood.
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