Carson soldiers killed in weekend crash identified

Two Fort Carson soldiers killed in a crash early Saturday have been identified by the post as Pfc. Pawl S. Serafin, 28 of Hillsborough, N.J., and Spc. Kale D. Clay , 23 of Boise, Idaho.

Two other men were seriously injured in the 5:15 a.m. accident on Colorado 115 near the Army post, said Colorado State Patrol Sgt. John Hahn.

Serafin and Clay were passengers in an Audi driven by another soldier, who was critically injured.

"It crossed the center line and struck a utility truck head-on,” Hahn said. "After the initial impact, a third car, a Toyota hatchback, went between and sideswiped them both."

The crash was south of Fort Carson in El Paso County, about five miles from the Fremont County line.

Serafin and Clay were pronounced dead at the scene and the Audi driver was taken to Memorial Hospital. The driver of the truck also was seriously injured and hospitalized. The Toyota driver sustained minor injuries.

No names were released. The cause of the crash is under investigation. "It looks like alcohol and speed were a factor,” Hahn said.

As of Monday evening, the state patrol had not released additional information on the crash.

Serafin had been in the Army less than a year and came to Fort Carson in November.

Clay served an 11-month tour in Iraq and was an Army Commendation Medal recipient.

Both were cannon operators with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment.