SOLDIER KILLED BY MINE EIGHTH US CASUALITY IN KOSOVO WASHINGTON, DEC 16 (KUNA) -- A 26-YEAR-OLD U.S. ARMY SOLDIER WHO WAS FATALLY INJURED BY A LAND MINE LAST NIGHT WAS THE EIGHTH AMERICAN CASUALITY IN KOSOVO, THE PENTAGON SAID ON THURSDAY.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KENNETH BACON SAID THE VICTIM, STAFF SERGEANT JOSEPH E. SUPONCIC, DIED ON THURSDAY AT A MILITARY BASE HOSPITAL FROM HIS INJURIES.
BACON SAID THAT THE SERGEANT, WHO WAS A MEMBER OF U.S. SPECIAL FORCES, WAS RIDING IN AN ARMORED HUMVEE WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
HE SAID THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED.
"THEY WERE DRIVING ALONG A ROAD THAT WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF LAND MINES, BUT THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE MANY LAND MINES," BACON SAID.
"IT IS OBVIOUSLY A TRAGIC LOSS FOR HIS FAMILY," HE SAID.
BACON SAID THE HUMVEE HIT THE MINE IN THE RUSSIAN SECTION OF THE AMERICAN SECTOR NEAR A TOWN CALLED KAMENICA.
THE PENTAGON SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SEVERAL AMERICANS HAVE DIED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN THE WAR-TORN YUGOSLAV PROVINCE.
ONE SOLDIER WAS ELECTROCUTED, HE SAID.
BACON ADDED THAT TWO OTHERS WERE SHOT, BUT THEIR DEATHS MAY HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE SUICIDES. THE SHOOTINGS ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, HE SAID.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO AMERICAN CASUALTIES RELATED TO COMBAT IN KOSOVO. (PICK UP PREVIOUS) JF.AJ KUNA 162317 Dec 99NNNN