Two Separate Crashes Kill 8 U.S. Troops & Injure 13 Canadians In Afghanistan
Sunday February 18, 2007
Eight American soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed Sunday in eastern Afghanistan and more than a dozen Canadian troops were injured the same day when three military vehicles collided in the southern region of the country.
For an unexplained reason a CH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying 22 American service members lost power and crashed in the Shahjoy district of Zabul province, about 270 kilometres northeast of Kandahar.
Eight troops were killed. Authorities stressed they believe the crash was caused by a mechanical problem and not by enemy fire.
"The loss of these service members is felt by all of us here in Afghanistan, and we offer our deepest sympathy to the families of those who were killed," Lt. Col. David Accetta, a coalition spokesman, said in a statement Sunday.
The incident involving the American helicopter came after another accident involving three Canadian armoured vehicles that injured 13 soldiers.
The accident happened in Kandahar when a convoy of troops was moving between bases. All of the injuries suffered are said to be minor.
"All of these soldiers are expected to go back to work," Canadian Forces spokesman Maj. Dale MacEachern said.
All of the injured troops were treated at a nearby medical clinic. One was transferred to a NATO hospital at Kandahar airfield for further observation.
