Contractors, soldier in Fort Bragg training accident identified

Edward Jenkins, an employee of Echota Technologies Corp., which helps Army personnel operate tactical ranges on post, was shot in the incident at Range 77 on Tuesday. The 57-year-old died at Womack Army Medical Center.

A company spokeswoman said Jenkins had worked for Echota since January providing range maintenance and support at Fort Bragg. She did not know Jenkins' hometown.

Company officials identified a second range control contractor who was shot and wounded as 27-year-old Daniel R. Aliff. He was treated and released from the hospital.

The Army said 25-year-old Pfc. Zachary Tams of Gold Beach, Ore., was grazed in the arm by a bullet. Tams is a Special Forces student at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He was treated and released from the hospital.

Soldiers on Range 77 were taking part in tactics to help prepare units for overseas missions when the incident occurred.

About 150 soldiers were at the range for training, but only 15 were shooting at the time, Maj. David Butler said Wednesday. Soldiers first do a dry fire, which doesn't involve bullets or blanks. They then move to blanks and finally to live ammunition.

The Army is investigating the incident and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched its own investigation Wednesday, according to Suzanne Street, OSHA's area director in Raleigh.

The agency, which oversees job safety regulations, is looking into the accident because the contractor was employed by a company in the private sector.