Army releases cause of death for soldier killed while on duty in Alaska

The 29-year-old soldier who was killed at the main gate of Fort Wainwright at the main gate of Fort Wainwright was hit by an alleged drunk driver.

Officials with Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson said Private First Class Arturo Alejandro Gomez was working at the gate when he was killed.

Local police said they arrived just after 5 p.m. on Monday after receiving a 911 call about three vehicles being involved in a collision outside the base.

When they arrived several military personnel had rifles pointed at a Toyota 4-Runner driven by 31-year-old Brianna Raquel Lapp.

“There was a soldier out doing a security check for the entrance and it appears he saw the vehicle coming, tried to avoid the vehicle and he was run over,” Ron Dupee, Fairbanks chief of police, said.

According to police, PFC Gomez was found lying on the ground behind the Toyota and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“She didn’t need to be driving, I mean, it’s July in Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s 82 degrees outside for the majority of the day. If you have to get somewhere, you can walk,” Dupee said. “There’s no reason for anybody to be driving drunk and we as a society shouldn’t be putting up with it.”

Lapp failed her field sobriety test and when she was given a breathalyzer test about two hours after the crash, she blew a .299 BAC, according to KTUU.

She was arrested for DUI and second-degree murder and arraigned on Tuesday afternoon.

PFC Gomez was an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division.

Gomez joined the U.S. Army last July and trained in Fort Moore, Georgia, before arriving in Alaska in February, JBER officials said.

“Pfc. Gomez showed great promise in his short time in the Arctic Wolves,” Col. Christopher Brawley, 1/11th brigade commander, stated in the release. “The loss of Pfc. Gomez has had a devastating impact on the unit. We are doing our best to support his family, friends and fellow soldiers in the aftermath of this tragic and senseless incident.”

© 2024 The Salty Soldier All rights reserved.

The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of TheSaltySoldier.com


Back To Top
Get notified when new stories are published OK No thanks