Cell kitchen area fell on Alaska paratrooper who died last thirty day period

Far more information has emerged about the dying of the Army Alaska paratrooper who was killed in an accident at Joint Foundation Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, past month.

Spc. Karolina Ferrer-Padilla “was killed instantly” when a containerized kitchen fell on her at about 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 23, in accordance to a preliminary reduction report from the Military Fight Readiness Center, which investigates fatal accidents.

This sort of stories are meant as educational instruments that “allow leaders an possibility to talk danger at the Soldier level,” in accordance to the middle.

The 20-calendar year-aged fueler from Puerto Rico was “lowering [the kitchen] throughout a tire alter…[and] eradicating one particular of the jack stands” when the kitchen “tipped more than approximately 90-degrees” and crushed her, according to the release. She was “unable to get clear” due to the fact she was standing on an icy surface.

Containerized kitchens are cell kitchens that stow into a 20-foot container mounted on a trailer chassis. They are so significant that they demand a five-ton cargo truck to haul.

JBER initially responders declared her useless at the scene of the accident, the report explained.

Ferrer-Padilla, who joined the Military in 2019, was assigned to the 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion, component of the 25th Infantry Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade Battle Team. Her person decorations and badges integrated an Army Accomplishment Medal and the Parachutist Badge.

Her battalion commander, Lt. Col. Justin Pritchard, described the “joy and inspiration” she introduced to her colleagues in a January press launch.

“Spc. Ferrer-Padilla was a focused specialist, loving spouse, and trustworthy close friend,” the commander said. “The Oak Battalion and Spartan Brigade grieve together with her spouse and children and mates and supply our honest condolences.”

Army Alaska officials initially declined to launch even further aspects about the incident, citing the ongoing investigations into the mishap’s brings about.

In accordance to the decline report, Ferrer-Padilla was the initial soldier to die in an “industrial/occupational” mishap in fiscal 2022. The support generally loses one solder for each year to these mishaps, the report stated.

At least a single other soldier has died in an on-obligation accident this fiscal year — Pfc. Patrick Hernandez of the 16th Navy Law enforcement Brigade died in a Humvee crash on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in October.