NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
May 7, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-22
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Iraqi Boy Accidentally Struck and Killed by Coalition Vehicle
TIKRIT, Iraq - An eight-year-old Iraqi boy was accidentally struck and killed here by a High-Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) traveling as part of a military convoy at approximately 3:30 p.m. yesterday.
Coalition Forces express their condolences to the family of the victim in this unfortunate and tragic incident.
At the time of the accident, the child was with a group of Iraqi children lining the shoulder of a road to watch the convoy when he unexpectedly jumped in front of the vehicle to pick something up from the road. The driver of the HMMWV was unable to take evasive action due to oncoming traffic from a convoy headed in the opposite direction.
The soldiers stopped immediately and attempted to render first aid to the victim. The driver then commandeered another US military vehicle that had stopped to transport the injured child and his brother to the nearby U.S. field hospital, where the child subsequently died of his injuries.
Army Civil Affairs personnel met with the father of the deceased child at the site, who also witnessed the event, and observed the soldiers rendering first aid.
An investigation is underway into the incident.
Coalition Civil Affairs and Information Operations personnel continue to mount an aggressive education campaign to warn civilians about the dangers of crowding busy roadways.
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