An incident has left one West Point cadet dead last week.
During a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle procedure on the morning of June 6, an incident occurred along the Route 293 near the Camp Natural Bridge training site that left one cadet deceased and 19 cadets and two soldiers injured. The accident happened at approximately 6:45 a.m., and local and state emergency responders arrived shortly afterward to transport individuals to local hospitals.
Nineteen cadets and two Soldiers also received minor injuries as a result of the accident where a M1085 medium tactical vehicle long wheelbase cargo truck rolled over at approximately 6:45 a.m. off Route 293 near Camp Natural Bridge in the West Point training area.
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) June 7, 2019
On June 7, West Point released the name of the deceased cadet, following the Department of Defense’s 24-hour policy after the next of kin notification. Cadet Christopher J. Morgan, in the Class of 2020, passed away at the scene due to injuries from the military vehicle accident. Morgan, 22, was a Law and Legal Studies major from West Orange, New Jersey. A talented athlete, he was recruited to be part of the Army Wrestling Team.
“We are devastated by the new of Chris’s passing,” says Army West Point Wrestling Coach Kevin Ward. “Christ had an infectious personality with a smile big enough to fill any room, and a heart big enough to love everyone around him. He made everyone around him better and he will be greatly missed.”
“Cadet Morgan was a valued member of the Corps of Cadets, and will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Morgan family,” said Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, 60th Superintendent, #USMA.
Click the link for the full releasehttps://t.co/sz2Yufc9g6 pic.twitter.com/gKdeSMZf4C
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) June 7, 2019
To commemorate Morgan, the Corps of Cadets held a vigil on June 7 to honor him, with a memorial and private funeral service planned for later that week.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point leads cadets on field training exercises during their sophomore summer at the school in order to prepare them for the military skills they will need in their third year.
In response to the tragedy, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) says, “Randy and I grieve with the West Point community and Army families impacted by this morning’s tragic accident. The loss of a young cadet is heartbreaking, and our prayers are with all who were injured.”
