Two soldiers were killed while trying to get their stalled vehicle off an eastern Missouri roadway after returning home from a college visit.
Army Reserve Pfc. Genevieve Brown, 19, and Washington State National Guard Spc. Warsha Kumar, 18, were driving a sport utility vehicle on Monday when it stalled. An 84-year-old driver then struck the SUV and two other vehicles whose occupants had stopped to help the stranded women.
Brown was assigned to the 375th Chemical Company as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. She had been in the Army Reserve since April 2016 and was from Festus, Missouri.
Kumar was assigned to the 181st Brigade Support Battalion, also as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. She had been in the Washington State National Guard since March 2016 and was from Yakima, Washington.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the two women met in basic training.
Family friend Teresa Reando said Brown had dreams of becoming a lawyer and had signed up for classes at Jefferson College hours before the crash. Reando says Kumar arrived in Missouri on Sunday night and accompanied Brown.
“The total Army lost members of our family,” the Army Reserve said in a statement emailed to Army Times. ” We all share in the sorrow felt by the family and friends of National Guard soldier Spc. Warsha Kumar and Army Reserve soldier Pfc. Genevieve Brown. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during their time of grief.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
