The Latest: Soldiers hurt in tent collapse were in training
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on a tent collapse at a California military base that hurt 22 soldiers (all times local):
12:35 p.m.
A U.S. Army official says 22 soldiers injured when two large canvas tents were toppled by blasts of wind from two helicopters at a central California military base were participating in a medical evacuation training exercise.
Master Sgt. Valerie Resciniti said Thursday officials are investigating why the U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters flew so close to the tents during the combat support exercise Wednesday night.
Rescinti is a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army's 91st training division, which organized the annual the training exercise.
She says the soldiers hurt during the training are members of the 228th Combat Support Hospital out of San Antonio, Texas, and all are medically trained.
Rescinti says other soldiers were able to quickly respond and provided medical care to those hurt until emergency responders arrived.
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6:30 a.m.
Authorities say 17 people taken to a hospital after a tent collapsed at a California military base have been released to their units.
Spokeswoman Amy Phillips at Fort Hunter said Thursday that another five were treated on site after the wind from the rotors of a helicopter that was making a landing collapsed the tent about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Phillips says she did not know the extent of the injuries of those who were hospitalized.
She says there will be news conference near the military base at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Philipps says about 8,000 people are participating in an annual training exercise that includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Army National Guard, Army Reserve and Canadian Armed Forces troops.
Fort Hunter Liggett is in Monterey County, about 170 miles (273 kilometers) south of San Francisco. The sprawling base is the largest U.S. Army Reserve Command post.
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12:00 a.m.
Authorities say 22 people have been injured in a tent collapse at a Central California military base.
Spokeswoman Amy Phillips at Fort Hunter Liggett says the wind from the rotors of a helicopter that was landing blew over the tent about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Phillips says there were 22 injuries, mostly of them minor. She says four people were taken to hospitals. Earlier reports said up to 30 people were injured.
Fort Hunter Liggett is in Monterey County, about 170 miles south of San Francisco. The sprawling base is the largest U.S. Army Reserve Command post.
It's currently holding an annual training exercise for thousands of Army, Navy, Air Force, Army National Guard, Army Reserve and Canadian Armed Forces troops.
