HARRISBURG, Pa. — A 22-year-old soldier from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was among three people killed in a head-on collision in Harnett County, North Carolina, over the weekend. The crash occurred around 3:36 a.m. Saturday on NC-87 near Olivia Road, according to reports.
Romeo Mason Fleck, a specialist and infantryman stationed at Fort Bragg, was driving a Toyota Camry that crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a Chevrolet pickup truck, authorities said. Fleck and 21-year-old Charles Jackson, also a soldier at Fort Bragg and a passenger in the Camry, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Chevrolet, William T. Underwood, 28, of Sanford, North Carolina, also died in the crash. A 20-year-old passenger in the Camry, also stationed at Fort Bragg, was hospitalized with critical injuries and transported to Womack Army Medical Center before being airlifted to another facility due to the severity of their condition.
According to North Carolina State Highway Patrol Sergeant Christopher Knox, the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
Fleck had been stationed at Fort Bragg since 2024. He was a graduate of Central Dauphin East High School, class of 2021, where he played on the boys’ freshman and varsity football teams, according to online sports records.
Spc. Jackson was a combat medic also stationed at Fort Bragg since 2024.
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief and remembrance from the Harrisburg community and within the ranks of Fort Bragg. The circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation, and authorities have not yet released further details regarding potential contributing factors.
The crash underscores the risks faced by service members, even during off-duty hours. Fort Bragg officials have not yet released a formal statement regarding the incident, but are reportedly providing support to the families of the deceased and the injured soldier.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
