By Jimmie Ferguson

Killeen Daily Herald

One Fort Hood soldier was killed and another injured in a one-car rollover Wednesday in the median along U.S. Highway 190 near Central Texas College.

Pfc. Samuel D. Coggan, 23, of the 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace F.W. Price of Copperas Cove, said the Department of Public Safety spokeswoman in Lampasas.

Cpl. Jamie Dupuy, 23, of the same unit, was transported to Darnall Army Community Hospital on Fort Hood, where he was treated and released, said Jeri Chappelle, the hospital spokeswoman.

Dupuy had sustained head and facial lacerations, the DPS said.

Coggan, a native of Leesburg, Fla., was an information systems operator. He entered the Army in November 2000 and assigned to Fort Hood in July 2001, said Cecil Green of the Fort Hood Public Affairs Office.

The accident occurred around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday off the westbound entrance ramp to U.S. 190, the DPS said.

Coggan, the operator of a 2001 silver-colored Mitsubishi, was heading west on the entrance ramp when he apparently lost control, and the vehicle ran off the south side of the exit ramp and overturned several times before coming to a stop upside down, the DPS said.

"It was a difficult thing to see," said Dr. Don Webb of Cove Physical Rehab, who was traveling west on U.S. 190 at the time of the accident.

"As I was on the phone calling 911, several, several people stopped and rendered assistance in removing the victims from the wrecked vehicle," Webb said. "There were many, many good Samaritans, and the emergency personnel were there within five minutes."

Both occupants were wearing their seat belts, the DPS said.

The accident is under investigation by the DPS.



Back to Index