Six Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) soldiers were hospitalized Tuesday morning after a vehicle collided with their platoon during routine exercises along Coolidge main road.
The soldiers were conducting their early morning jog when the vehicle crashed into the group, sending them scrambling for safety, according to media reports.
While most army officers managed to avoid impact, five male and one female officer sustained injuries from the direct collision.
Emergency Medical Services transported all six injured soldiers to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre for treatment.
Two soldiers – one female and one male – required full immobilization with neck braces to minimize movement during transport.
“This morning, a vehicle ran into a group of soldiers that were exercising early this morning,” Brigadier General Telbert Benjamin confirmed to Observer media. “I can’t give you a precise time outside of between 5 and 6 am this morning.”
According to Benjamin, three soldiers were discharged around lunchtime Monday with minor injuries including a twisted ankle.
Medical staff were still awaiting test results for the remaining hospitalized soldiers, up to press time.
Police responded to the scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The Brigadier General indicated that the driver was not detained but was questioned by ABDF personnel following the incident.
“Based on the discussion, what he has indicated is that he is a regular driver, so he’s aware that the soldiers are training on the road in the mornings,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin expressed concern about the ongoing traffic safety issues in the area, particularly during early morning and evening hours when speeding is common.
“It’s something that is a concern for us. We’ve been up here for a very long time,” he said. “The persons who’re going to work on the offshore islands have a tendency of driving very fast in the morning and this is not the first incident that has happened here up at this side.”
Previous incidents have involved both military and civilian vehicles along the same stretch of road.
“There are vehicles that have been impacted before, both our vehicles as well as other public vehicles,” he said. “I think what we are most concerned about in the morning between 5 and 7, it’s like a race up here, and then in the evening between 6 pm and 7 pm, same thing seems to happen in the reverse order.”
ABDF officials will continue monitoring the condition of the remaining hospitalized soldiers.
