A woman was fatally struck by a truck transporting an Army M1 Abrams tank in Northeast Washington on June 16, just two days after the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade presided over by President Donald Trump.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on New York Avenue, as the truck—part of a larger convoy—was moving the tank from West Potomac Park to a railyard in Jessup, Maryland. According to an internal Army document reviewed by USA TODAY, the vehicle involved was operated by a civilian contract driver. No military personnel were directly involved in the accident.
Washington Metropolitan Police officers who responded to the scene found the victim, an adult female, unconscious and not breathing, suffering from life-threatening injuries. Despite the rapid arrival of fire and emergency medical services, the woman was pronounced dead on site. Her identity has not yet been publicly released.
Initial findings from the police investigation suggest that the truck driver bore no criminal intent or negligence in the incident. The Army declined to provide additional comment and referred inquiries to the D.C. police department, which is continuing its investigation.
The truck was hauling one of the M1 Abrams tanks featured in the high-profile parade held in the heart of the nation’s capital. The celebration included approximately 6,000 uniformed soldiers representing various eras of American military history, as well as a display of about 120 military vehicles. The tanks had been transported from Fort Hood, Texas (recently renamed Fort Cavazos), specifically for the commemorative event.
This tragic accident has cast a somber note over what was intended to be a historic celebration of the Army’s 250 years of service.
