KABUL, Afghanistan – A U.S. military truck hit a motorbike and killed one person Tuesday before plowing into a house in the Afghan capital, two weeks after another crash involving U.S. forces in the same neighborhood sparked deadly riots, police said.
The riots on May 29 were the worst in Kabul since the Taliban's 2001 ouster, with hundreds of people rampaging through the city screaming "Death to America!" About 20 people were killed.
There was no immediate sign of unrest after Tuesday's accident, which occurred when the truck's driver seemingly lost control coming down a hill, said Mohammed Zaman, a local police officer. He said one person was killed on the bike and a second was injured, but no one was hurt in the home.
A U.S. military statement said the vehicle involved in the crash was a tow truck that was pulling another truck. The vehicles flipped over a 15-foot embankment after hitting the motorbike, the statement said. It said initial reports indicated a child may have been killed.
"This is a tragic accident and we deeply regret any deaths or injuries resulting from this incident," said U.S. spokesman Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick.
Police and U.S. troops quickly cordoned off the area, while dozens of people from the neighborhood stood and watched.
One soldier from the crashed truck asked an Associated Press reporter to translate to local residents an account of what happened. Without giving his name, the soldier said the motorcycle suddenly pulled onto the road and the truck tried to swerve but was unable to avoid hitting it.
He said the truck then hit the house, pushing down one of its walls, before coming to a halt.
Five civilians were killed in the May 29 accident when a U.S. military truck plowed into a line of cars. The military said brake failure caused the crash.
Observers believe the riot partly stemmed from deep-rooted resentment toward the U.S. military over the aggressive driving tactics of its troops. Convoys often pass through crowded areas at high speeds and sometimes disregard road rules.
The U.S. military launched an investigation into last month's crash and said its vehicles would drive more slowly.
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