Army identifies Fort Hood soldier killed in vehicle rollover during training

The soldier killed Monday in a training accident at the National Training Center has been identified as a 22-year-old combat engineer, according to a Wednesday release from Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Octavious Lakes Jr. was in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle that rolled over during a rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, the release said.

“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. Octavious Lakes,” Col. Kevin Capra, commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, said in the release. “His dedication, professionalism and spirit will be missed, but never forgotten.”

The accident is under investigation, according to the release.

Three more soldiers were injured in the incident, Fort Hood spokesman Kenneth Drylie told Army Times on Tuesday. Two were treated for injuries at the training center’s on-post hospital, while another was airlifted to Loma Linda, California, for more extensive treatment.

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Lakes enlisted out of Buford, Georgia, in March 2017 and had been at Fort Hood since June of that year.

His awards include two Army Achievement Medals, a Global war on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, according to the release.

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