11th airborne soldier killed, another injured in car accident

A soldier stationed at Fort Wainwright died Saturday, May 18, when the car she was in crashed and rolled over, the U.S. Army and Alaska State Troopers announced.

Private 1st Class Cierra Nglias Truce of the 11th Airborne Division died early Saturday morning. She and another soldier were driving along the Parks Highway in Alaska when an accident occurred for unknown reasons. 19-year-old Truce was the passenger and was ejected from the vehicle. Alaska State Troopers received a call about the crash and responded shortly after 6 a.m., but Truce died at the scene.

Truce and the other soldier who was seriously injured in the crash were both stationed at Fort Wainwright. The other soldier was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for treatment and has since been released.

According to the Army, Truce served as a supply specialist with 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 11th Airborne Division. She was from the city of Koror in the Republic of Palau and joined the army in 2023. After her training, she was stationed at Fort Wainwright in August of that year.

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“Pfc. Truce was a high-performing member of the Bobcat Battalion, and her loss is devastating to the entire formation,” Lt. Col. Jon Doiron, commander of 1st-5th Infantry Battalion, said in an Army news release about her death. “Her tragic death has truly impacted the entire Bobcat family, and our support and prayers go out to everyone who considered Cierra a friend or family.”

The accident occurred near Nenana, Alaska, on the Parks Highway, the main route between Anchorage and Fairbanks, the latter city being home to Fort Wainwright.

The accident is under investigation, according to a statement from Alaska State Troopers over the weekend.

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