'Errors' Made Around Time Of Fatal Jackal Accident

A service inquiry into a fatal Jackal accident has found "errors in planning and judgement" occurred.

British Army soldier Staff Sergeant John McKelvie’s vehicle "rolled multiple times down a hill" while "ascending a steep incline" during driver training in 2019.

SSgt McKelvie, also known as 'Jock', was airlifted to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough after the accident at Gandale Camp on 29 January, but died the following month.

The Driver Training Course instructor, who was also in the Jackal vehicle at the time it overturned, was taken to hospital for treatment by land ambulance.

SSgt McKelvie served with Combat Recce – The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, which was formed in 2014.

The soldier had previously served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

The Defence Safety Authority report states "both of the personnel involved in the accident were conscientious and professional individuals".

While the document acknowledges "errors in planning and judgement" were made at the time of the accident, it states "there are a number of reasons for this".

Listing the factors, it says the instructor was "newly qualified" and "should have been afforded enhanced levels of supervision".

The report adds that the Commanding Officer "had only recently taken command of the unit and was unlikely to have had sufficient time to scrutinise the training activity", while a "combination of relative inexperience" was present.

It also acknowledges that a lack of training for the instructor and a "high workload environment... increased the chances of errors being made".

In addition, the panel found the "hill height and gradient combined with topography [landscape] were aggravating factors" for the incident.

Recommendations to improve defence safety included "reviewing all Jackal training", "amending the Driving and Maintenance Instructors course", and ensuring "all UK training area headquarters liaise with local emergency service operations centres annually in order to ensure they are aware of the designated emergency rendezvous locations".

Following the release of the inquiry report, Colonel Graham Livingstone of the Army Safety Centre said: "This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the family of SSgt John McKelvie.

"The safety of personnel continues to be our highest priority and we take the findings of such investigations very seriously.

"We are considering the recommendations of this investigation and where lessons are identified we will make sure our processes are changed to ensure the vehicles can continue to be operated safely."

Cover image: Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry/Facebook.