Army specialist dies from injuries in rail cargo inspection accident near Berlin

A U.S. soldier, Spc. Jaylin Perez, aged 32, died on July 8 from injuries sustained in a rail accident near Berlin, Germany. U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) announced his death in a statement on Friday. The accident occurred on July 2 during a cargo security inspection of U.S. military equipment being transported by rail. German first responders evacuated Perez, who was found unresponsive, to a hospital specializing in severe electrical burns.

Spc. Perez was deployed in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. European Command mission established following Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine. He was a member of the 200th Military Police Command, headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland, and was attached to the 51st Military Police Battalion from South Carolina. Maj. Gen. Susie Kuilan, commander of the 200th Military Police Command, stated Perez served with distinction while mobilized to Europe and that his loss is deeply felt.

The death is under investigation by both U.S. and German authorities. This incident marks the third fatal accident involving U.S. soldiers in Europe this year. Previous incidents include the death of 24-year-old Sgt. Aaron Cox from the 101st Airborne Division in a June rollover accident in Hungary, and the deaths of four 3rd Infantry Division soldiers in Lithuania in March when their armored recovery vehicle submerged in a bog.