A 29-year-old Fort Hood soldier died on Friday after a training incident in California, according to an Army news release.

Pvt. Michael Luis Garcia suffered injuries during vehicle training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin.



The incident involved an M1064 mortar carrier, said Chris Grey, a spokesman for Army Criminal Investigation Command. He added that, to his knowledge, no one else was hurt in the incident.



Grey and Fort Hood officials declined to provide any more information, pending the ongoing investigation. CID agents are leading the investigation.





Pvt. Michael Garcia was training on an M1064 mortar carrier like this one at the National Training Center when he died in an accident Feb. 17. The M1064 pictured here was used during a training exercise in Poland in 2015.

Photo Credit: Spc. Marcus Floyd/Army

Garcia, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was assigned to 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. The indirect fire infantryman had been on active duty since March 2016, the release said.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Charlsy Panzino covers the Guard and Reserve, training, technology, operations and features for Army Times and Air Force Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.

