names released

Crash kills one Cdn, injures 7 in Afghanistan

A Canadian soldier was killed Thursday after an armoured vehicle crashed with a civilian vehicle near Kandahar. Six other soldiers and an Afghan interpreter were also hurt in the crash.

The dead soldier was identified as Cpl. Paul James Davis, of Bridgewater, N.S.

Two soldiers are in critical condition -- Master-Corp. Timothy Wilson of Grande Prairie, Alta., and Pte. Miguel Chavez, originally of El Salvador.

Chavez will be transported to the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, later tonight, according to Col. Tom Putt, deputy commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

Wilson and Sgt. Darren Haggerty of London, Ont., will also soon be transported there, he said.

Daggerty, three others soldiers and a civilian Afghan interpreter are in stable condition. The other soldiers are named as Pte. Nathan Justice of Dauphin, Manitoba; Pte. Mark Taylor of Prince Rupert, B.C.; and Pte. Thomas Wong of Edmonton.

Most of the soldiers involved in the accident are based in Shilo, Manitoba. They are from B-Company of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group in Afghanistan.

In the past three weeks, at least 10 soldiers from that unit have been killed or injured, mainly in vehicle accidents. ...

"There is one criticism, however. With all of the heavy armour that these vehicles currently have on them, it does make them top heavy and prone to tip overs," McClure told CTV's Newsnet.

Hillier admits that the vehicle can be top-heavy, but says it is perfect for the Afghan environment, where the roads aren't always paved.

"The fighting vehicle that we have, built in Canada by the way, is the best fighting vehicle in the world. And we are convinced of that and we believe that."

LaFlamme also pointed out that these vehicles have to travel at great speeds to avoid remotely-detonated devices. They also have to move close together so that another vehicle doesn't try and intercept.

Add to that the dust and sand that is kicked up, and it makes things even more dangerous.

"It is almost impossible to see to warn the guys inside: "Hold on, because we are coming up against a pothole or a sharp curve or we have to put the brakes on quickly'," LaFlamme told Newsnet.

"It is almost impossible to do that because the visibility at certain times is just so low." ...

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged unwavering support to Canadian Forces in Afghanistan and issued a stern rebuke to Liberal MPs who have questioned Canada's role in the war-torn nation.

"You do not send men and women into harm's way on a dangerous mission with the support of our party and other Canadians, and then decide when they're over there that you're not sure you should have sent them. That's not the way this government is going to behave," Harper said.
source