A soldier in the United States tragically lost his life when he was fatally injured by a tank during a training exercise in California. Adrian Bonsey, a combat engineer aged 29, was on foot participating in a large training activity in the Mojave Desert when he was struck by a 27-ton M2 Bradley fighting vehicle.
Specialist Bonsey, who belonged to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart in Georgia, met his untimely death at 4:30 am on June 10 under conditions of limited visibility, as confirmed by an army spokesperson. Major General John Lubas, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Adrian as a dedicated soldier devoted to serving the nation.
Hailing from New York, Specialist Bonsey enlisted in the army in 2023 and had recently been stationed at Fort Stewart for two months. Prior to this assignment, he served at Fort Carson, Colorado, and was deployed to Poland in 2024.
The fatal incident occurred during a large-scale training session at the National Training Center in California’s Mojave Desert, which serves as a crucial phase preparing army units for potential combat deployments overseas. Bradley fighting vehicles, manned by a three-person crew and capable of transporting a six-man rifle team, are equipped with various weapons including a 25mm chain gun and M240C 7.62mm machine gun, as well as TOW anti-tank missiles.
According to Pentagon data, 31 soldiers lost their lives in training accidents in 2025, with fatalities stemming from both aircraft mishaps and ground-related incidents. The majority of ground fatalities involved military vehicles, with a significant number occurring in rollover incidents.
Over the years, the army has made efforts to reduce vehicle-related fatalities during training exercises. Investigations have highlighted issues such as sleep deprivation, inadequate training, and inexperienced leaders overseeing high-risk activities as contributing factors to such accidents.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.
