A senior Army officer from Fort Lee, Virginia, died in the hospital on April 22, 2019, from injuries he received while changing a tire.
Colonel Gregory Townsend, commander of the 23rd Quartermaster Brigade, was driving on Route 460 in Sussex County, Virginia, on April 18 when he stopped to help someone change a tire. Unfortunately, his act of kindness cost him his life, because as he was almost done fixing the tire, the car fell onto the colonel and crushed him.
Col. Gregory S. Townsend stopped to help a motorist change their tire, and after the vehicle fell on him. He was treated until his death on Monday. Rest in peace, sir. https://t.co/SADs4oRlth
— American Military News (@AmerMilNews) April 25, 2019
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Greg’s family and friends during this very difficult time,” Brig. Gen. Douglas McBride, 55th Quartermaster General and commandant of the Quartermaster School, said in a release obtained by Army Times. “His legacy as a servant leader will live on in the hearts and minds of all Soldiers that he has served with and led.”
Colonel Townsend, 46, was taken in critical condition to Virginia Commonwealth University Critical Care Hospital in Richmond, where he was treated for his injuries, but he nonetheless died on Monday, April 22.
“The loss of Col. Greg Townsend is devastating for his family and the Army,” McBride said in an interview with WTVR, an affiliate of CNN.
Reports say Col. Gregory S. Townsend was driving he stopped to help the motorist change a tire. The vehicle fell on him
Posted by News 4 San Antonio on Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Townsend, an Auburn University graduate, joined the Army on May 18, 1996, in his home state of Alabama. He received a commission through ROTC as a quartermaster officer.
Townsend was in the Army for almost 23 years and was deployed twice to Iraq, first in February 2003 and again in August 2009, and once to Afghanistan in October 2009.
After his tours of duty, he settled into life in Fort Lee, near Petersburg, Virginia, in July 2017, taking the office of the commander of the 23rd Quartermaster Brigade at the US Army Quartermaster School.
During his service for the military, Townsend received 28 awards and earned three Bronze Stars, four Meritorious Service Medals, and the National Defense Service Medal, among other awards.
Decorated #Army Colonel Gregory S. Townsend Dies Helping Stranded Motorist in Virginia ????
We at #AUSA extend our deepest condolences to Col. #Townsend’s family, friends & everyone at the 23rd Quartermaster Brigade at #FortLee. #ThursdayThoughts #TillValhalla #Service #Sacrifice pic.twitter.com/jTiqpxzQ8x— AUSA Association of the US Army (@AUSA_SanDiego) April 25, 2019
Three Men Killed in Hit-And-Run While Changing a Tire
In the early morning of March 10, 2019, the driver of a Chevy Silverado pickup truck plowed his car into three men who were fixing a flat tire on Interstate 635, near Dallas, Texas, WFAA reported.
In a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed all three men, the driver also wounded another man and a woman who were inside the disabled Toyota RAV4.
The suspect’s truck was damaged. The driver then took off on foot, leaving behind his 13-year-old son, who was with him at that time and who was also injured.
The suspect of the truck has been identified as 32 year old Jesus Chavarria-Vasquez. He left his injured son in the car and fled the scene. If you have seen of this man or have any additional information on him, please contact the police.https://t.co/oDzZJwY96u
— UTD FSA (@FSADallas) March 12, 2019
The three men were pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman was rushed in critical condition to the hospital. The other man inside the vehicle was also taken to the hospital with lesser injuries.
The 13-year-old boy was also taken to the hospital, accompanied by his mother.
The driver of the Chevy, Jesus Chavarria-Vasquez, 32, will face charges of manslaughter as well as failing to stop and help and leaving the site of the accident, according to Dallas Police.