2 Canadian soldiers die in vehicle rollover
Last Updated: Monday, January 7, 2008 | 12:36 AM ET
CBC News
Two Canadian soldiers died Sunday when their light armoured vehicle rolled over during a mission in the volatile Zhari district of southern Afghanistan.
The incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. local time on Sunday in the Nalgham region, about 40 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City in Kandahar province. The soldiers were moving across "rough and difficult terrain" when the accident occurred, the military said.
Brig.-Gen Guy Laroche said the incident was unrelated to enemy fire.
Cpl. Eric Labbé, who was with the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment from CFB Valcartier near Quebec City, died instantly. He was born in Rimouski, Que. The name of the second soldier is being withheld at the family's request.
Both soldiers were in the turret of the LAV III when they died. Two other soldiers who were inside the vehicle, which was travelling to a location to set up camp for the night, were unhurt.
"We're saddened by this tragic loss," Laroche said. "They will be missed and we will honour their sacrifice to the service of Canada and their contribution to bring peace to the people of Afghanistan."
The two dead soldiers were part of operation Teng Azem, or Steadfast Decision, an operation to flush insurgents out of an area around the Nalgham community in Zhari district, the military said.
The military said an investigation of the accident is underway.
These latest casualties bring the number of Canadians killed in Afghanistan to 76 soldiers and one diplomat since the mission began in 2002.
