FAIRBANKS, Alaska, July 24, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A soldier killed in the collision on Monday evening at the Fort Wainwright main gate has been identified as 29-year-old Pfc. Arturo Alejandro Gomez, a Fairbanks Police statement says.
Gomez, from Provo, was an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division who joined the Army in July 2023 and trained at Fort Moore, Georgia, before reporting to Alaska in February 2024.
Gomez was assigned to gate duty when the incident occurred at about 5:10 p.m. Monday, the Fairbanks Police statement says.
“Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a witness that stated three vehicles had been involved in a motor vehicle collision and that the suspect vehicle was now stopped at the Fort Wainwright main gate.
“When the first FPD officer arrived at the scene, several military personnel had their rifles pointed at a Toyota 4-Runner that had significant damage and was stopped with the driver’s side against a jersey barrier. Behind the vehicle was a male victim on the ground who was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Officers noted that the driver, 31-year-old Brianna Raquel Lapp, appeared to have “poor mobility, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol.”
Witnesses said Lapp had been “driving at a high rate of speed through… through ditches and over medians. Lapp struck two vehicles and a traffic control sign before driving towards a construction area near the Ft. WW visitors center. She then drove through a portion of the fence and continued in the eastbound lanes before striking a Ft. Wainwright soldier that was working as a gate guard.
“Multiple witnesses stated that the victim attempted to run out of the way to avoid being struck. Lapp’s breath sample taken at FPD at approximately 7:30pm measured .299 BrAC (breath alcohol content), over three and a half times the legal limit. The defendant stated she did not remember hitting anyone.”
Lapp was arraigned Tuesday for alleged DUI and second degree murder, the statement says.
“The death of this soldier was senseless and preventable,” Fairbanks Police Chief Ron Dupee said in the news release.
“I find it incredibly tragic that this young man who joined the military service was senselessly run down right here in the country that he signed up to protect. His life was taken away and this deeply impacts the entire Ft. Wainwright and Fairbanks community.”
Col. Christopher Brawley, 1/11th brigade commander, praised Gomez in a news release.
“Pfc. Gomez showed great promise in his short time in the Arctic Wolves,” he said. “The loss of Pfc. Gomez has had a devastating impact on the unit. We are doing our best to support his family, friends and fellow soldiers in the aftermath of this tragic and senseless incident.”
