DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 032/10
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Afghan man dies following vehicle incident
A Defence inquiry has concluded its review into an incident involving an Afghan man
and an Australian Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) on 17 October 2009.
The inquiry found that the cause of the incident and injury to the Afghan male was
because he deliberately moved from the side of the road, and laid down between the
front and rear wheels of the PMV, which ran over him.
The vehicle was travelling slowly but witnesses stated there was no time for anyone to
react to the man’s actions. The inquiry found that the driver or crew commander could
not have anticipated the actions of the Afghan man.
During the inquiry, Defence was advised that the Afghan man had died on or about 23
November 2009, in a Kandahar hospital. The inquiry found that it was likely the man
had died as a result of complications from the injuries sustained in the incident.
The inquiry also found that without the emergency medical aid provided by the
Australian soldiers of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, the man would
likely have died at the scene.
The transfer of the Afghan man from the military hospital in Tarin Kowt after surgery
and treatment to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health Mirvais Medical Facility in
Kandahar was in accordance with normal procedure in relation to the treatment of
local nationals.
The inquiry officer found that the ADF’s tactics, techniques and procedures for
convoying through populated areas were appropriate, and that there was no evidence
to support disciplinary or administrative action.
The inquiry officer has recommended that in future all reasonable measures should be
taken to track the subsequent treatment locations and medical status of injured locals,
in order to pursue follow-up actions as appropriate.
Defence is assisting the man’s family in accordance with local customs and has
extended its condolences for their loss.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
