Canada in Afghanistan

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
It was a collision with a civilian vehicle.

RIP Cpl. Paul James Davis, of Bridgewater, N.S.

\
here is the press release...

One Canadian soldier killed, six soldiers and one civilian injured in Afghanistan vehicle accident
OTTAWA, March 2 /CNW Telbec/ - One Canadian soldier was killed, six
others and one local interpreter were injured when their light armoured
vehicle (LAV III) collided with a civilian taxi that may have failed to yield
at an intersection causing the LAV III to swerve into a roadside ditch before
rolling over. The accident occurred about seven kilometres west of Kandahar
around 9:50 a.m. local time (12:20 a.m. EST) on March 2.

Dead is Corporal Paul Davis of Bridgewater, N.S.

Seriously injured are:

Master-Corporal Timothy Wilson of Grande Prairie, Alta.;
Private Miguel Chavez, originally of San Salvador, El Salvador.

Other soldiers injured along with an Afghan interpreter are:

Private Nathan Justice of Dauphin, Man.;
Private Mark Taylor of Prince Rupert, B.C.;
Private Thomas Wong of Edmonton, Alta.;
Sergeant Darren Haggerty of London, Ont.

Five of the injured, including the interpreter, are in stable condition
at this time. All next of kin have been notified.
One soldier underwent surgery at the coalition field hospital at Kandahar
Airfield. Plans are being made to transfer him to the U.S. medical facility at
Landstuhl, Germany, as soon as his medical condition allows. Private Chavez is
already en route to Landstuhl on board a U.S. military aircraft diverted to
Kandahar.
The repatriation of Corporal Davis' remains is now being planned. Details
will be released as they become available.
The soldiers were conducting a routine patrol when their LAV III rolled
over. They were all members of Bravo Company from the 2nd Battalion, Princess
Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), stationed in Shilo, Man.,
serving with Task Force Afghanistan, in Kandahar as part of Canadian
operations in Afghanistan.
Immediately after the incident, a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter from
Kandahar Airfield flew four of the injured soldiers from the accident site to
the coalition hospital at Kandahar Airfield while the others were evacuated by
road in a Bison ambulance to a medical facility at Camp Nathan Smith.
Canada's mission in Afghanistan is part of our contribution to the
international campaign to help bring stability and security to the people of
Afghanistan. The overarching goal is to help the Afghan people achieve peace
by preventing their nation from relapsing into a failed state that gives
terrorist and terrorist organizations a safe haven.
There are significant risks involved in these operations, but Canadian
Forces members are among the best trained, and most experienced soldiers in
the world. They are well led, well equipped, and fully prepared for the
mission in Afghanistan
Cpl Davis is the ninth Canadian soldier to lose his life in Afghanistan.
Glyn Berry, a representative from Foreign Affairs Canada also lost his life
while serving in Afghanistan.

NOTE TO EDITOR:

Images related to this incident will be available on the CF Combat Camera
website at: http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca



For further information: (613) 996-2353/54, After hours: (613) 792-2973,
World Wide Web: http://www.forces.gc.ca