A GROUP of soldiers injured in a vehicle rollover at Holsworthy Army Base today were engineers on a field training excursion.

The Daily Telegraph has been told the 20 soldiers from the Royal Australian Engineers Corp were returning from an exercise when the truck they were in rolled, just before 9am.



One of the rear cage passengers, a 21-year-old man, is on life support in Liverpool Hospital with critical head injuries, while another man, believed to be aged 19, is in a critical condition in Westmead Hospital with spinal injuries.



The driver of the Unimog open top troop carrier suffered chest injuries, and is being treated in St George Hospital, where he is listed as serious.

At a press conference, NSW Police Inspector Steve Blair said police were looking closely at the speed and its likely role in the accident which has left two soldiers fighting for life.

A total of 18 soldiers were injured in the crash involving the open-roofed vehicle troop carrier. Other injuries included broken limbs, cuts and bruises.

The vehicle was one of two travelling in convoy, but not within sight of each other. Inspector Blair said the troop carriers "are a safe vehicle if driven correctly".

media_camera An Australian Army truck which rolled on a road within the range at Holsworthy Barracks in south western Sydney. Picture: Craig Greenhill

Police will conduct a thorough investigation into the crash to put before the court.



"It's unusual in that it's on a military establishment,” Inspector Blair said.



"In instances like this any collision is bad … We are lucky at this stage that no one has passed away - however it is kept in mind that there are two critically injured.”



The Australian Army will not be commenting on the accident until all next of kin are notified.

An army spokesman said one of the injured soldiers has family overseas who they have not been able to contact, since this morning's accident.



The heavy-duty, camouflaged vehicle crashed and rolled onto its side around 9am, about 8km inside the sprawling military reserve on a dirt road difficult to access by normal means of transportation.



NSW Ambulance inspector Stephen Fulton said the two critically injured soldiers suffered head and spinal injuries.



Sixteen other soldiers involved in the crash suffered a combination of broken bones and lacerations.

Eight soldiers were taken Liverpool Hospital, three to Westmead and three to St George hospitals.

Two injured soldiers are being treated at a medical facility inside the base, and two have been discharged.

media_camera An areial shot of the overturned vehicle. Picture: Sky News



Insp Fulton said the accident occurred during a standard troop movement training exercise.



Police and army crews were also in attendance at the scene of the accident.



Two helicopters and 12 ambulance vehicles responded to the emergency.



Officers from NSW Police Force’s Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit are at the scene of the rollover.



They’re continuing their inquiries to determine the cause of the incident.

Photographs and video footage of the accident show the truck lying on its side, next to an embankment with military backpacks and other equipment spilling out.



media_camera An ambulance is pictured coming out of the back gate of Holsworthy army barracks with a man wearing fatigues driving. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

An injured soldier could be seen being placed onto a stretcher and the road around the truck had traffic cones placed around it.



Another soldier was seen lying on the grass receiving medical treatment.



A Defence spokesman said information about the accident was still being collated and would not provide any further details.



The military base is home to the 17th Signals Regiment and plays host to visiting commando and other combat units.

The ages and gender of those involved were not immediately clear.

Originally published as Injured soldiers fighting for life