Local Soldier Dies in Texas Accident

A Sylmar man stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas with the U.S. Army was killed last week when his military truck was struck by a Union Pacific train in El Paso, officials said Tuesday.

Pfc. Joe Steve Torres, 23, was driving a 10-ton military cargo truck to a training site Thursday as part of a three-vehicle convoy when the accident occurred, authorities said.

Both Torres and his passenger, Spc. Corey Gene Moe of New York, were killed instantly. There were no other injuries.

The railroad crossing where the train hit Torres’ vehicle had no warning lights or crossing arms, El Paso Police Officer Joe Alvarez said.

“The vehicle got struck just as it was crossing the tracks,” Alvarez said. “The ones who got struck didn’t see [the train] for whatever reason.”

The accident is under investigation by El Paso police traffic investigators. Union Pacific officials and the National Transportation Safety Board also will investigate.

Torres joined the Army in 1996 and served in Korea and Saudi Arabia with the 43rd Air Defense Artillery. While in the Middle East, Torres acted as a Patriot missile tactical controller for Operation Desert Thunder II and Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and 1999. He received numerous awards, including the National Defense Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal.

The Army has posthumously awarded Torres the Army Commendation Medal. Torres is survived by his mother, Rosie Cramberg of Graham, Wash., and his father, Joe S. Torres Sr. of Sylmar.

An Army fund has been established for Torres’ family. Donations can be sent by check or money order to: Pfc. Joe S. Torres Jr.; Acct. No. 3104125; Armed Forces Bank; 1720 Marshall Road; Fort Bliss, Texas 79906.