WARSAW, Poland — A Polish civilian was killed and one injured in a car accident involving a convoy of four US Army vehicles currently in Poland for the country's largest military exercise, the service has confirmed.
The incident occurred at 11:30 p.m. local time Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the US Army Europe commander, expressed his condolences Wednesday following a bridge-crossing exercise in Chelmno, where he told reporters of the incident.
Four Army vehicles from the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade were involved in a collision with a civilian vehicle containing two passengers, a service statement reads. The vehicles were entering highway A18 near Świętoszów, Lubuskie. The Army vehicles were traveling to Torun as part of Poland's military exercise Anakonda 16, in which the US Army is playing a major role.
The passenger in the car was killed and the driver was taken to a hospital in Boleslawiec, according to the Army. No US soldiers were injured but the vehicle involved in the crash was unable to continue with the convoy.
"The safety of the local population and all Exercise Anakonda participants is of utmost importance. The priority is to ensure the well-being of those involved and ensure compliance with local laws and law enforcement officials," the Army statement said.
Polish and US agencies are investigating the cause of the incident and therefore Army officials would not comment on the details of the accident.
Anakonda is a multinational exercise involving around 31,000 soldiers from 23 countries and including about 3,000 vehicles. The exercise started Monday and will continue through June 17.
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Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist covering land warfare for Defense News. She has also worked for Politico and Inside Defense. She holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College.
