Death Trap

Sergeant’s family blasts Army after fatal crash inquiry

- Sean Rayment

The family of a veteran soldier killed during training have blamed Army “incompetence” after a military inquiry listed 179 separate failures.

Staff Sergeant John McKelvie died of head injuries after the Jackal reconnaissance vehicle he was driving rolled down a hill and turned over six times.

His instructor was thrown clear, suffering relatively minor injuries at Catterick, North Yorks, in January 2019.

A report into the tragedy found there had been 34 similar accidents involving the Jackal, leaving 30 soldiers with head and neck injuries.

The vehicle was designed for troops 6ft 2in tall or under but John was 6ft 4in, which meant when the vehicle rolled, his head made contact with the ground.