APEX, N.C. (WNCN) — The military backgrounds have been released for the three Fort Bragg paratroopers killed in a crash in North Carolina over the weekend, officials said Monday.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, a 2014 Infiniti Q50 Sedan was traveling north on U.S. 1 near Friendship Road around Apex just before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday when it went off the right side of the road and overturned several times, killing three people inside and leaving a fourth seriously hurt.
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U.S. military officials confirmed the three people killed were paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. They were identified as:
- Pfc. Marion Kim from San Jacinto, Ca., a utilities equipment repairer assigned to the 82nd Airborne since this year. He held the Army Parachutist Badge.
- Pfc. Ricky Alicea Rosas, from Ricon, Puerto Rico, a utilities equipment repairer assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division since last year. He held the Army Achievement Medal and Army Parachutist Badge, among other awards.
- Spc. Darius Stevens, from Fayetteville, a paralegal specialist assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division since 2023. Among other awards, he held the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achieve Medal, Certificate of Achievement, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.
Troopers said Stevens was the driver, Rosas was the front seat passenger, and Kim was in the left side back seat.
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Both Stevens and Kim were not wearing a seatbelt and ejected from the vehicle. Rosas had a seatbelt on and remained inside, but also died, according to the NCSHP.
According to the NCSHP, the passenger who survived was wearing a seat belt and sitting in the right side back seat. He was taken to WakeMed, where his condition was considered serious, but stable as of Saturday night…