Team 1 Shirt

This is devastating news to report. During the Syracuse GORUCK Challenge that began last night, Jeff Proietti (a prior GRT) was fatally struck by a vehicle. His brother Craig was in the same class. Jeff’s wife and family have been notified and currently Cadre Brian and several GRT’s are with his family. Here are the facts as we know them at this time as they relate to the incident:
• Cadre Brian was the Cadre for this event. Most of these facts come directly from his deposition to local law enforcement made after the tragedy occurred.
• The incident occurred at approximately 6:43 am Saturday, May 17, 2014.
• Environmental Conditions at time of incident: 52 degrees, clear skies, unlimited visibility.
• Incident area specifics: Two lane road. One side of the road had a retaining wall nearly against the road, the other side of the road had a shoulder, gravel and grass.
• Cadre Brian was positioned at the rear of the class to monitor them. His assessment is that at the time of incident Jeff did not appear fatigued and was in full control of the class.
• Event Narrative: Jeff was designated as the Team Leader approximately 20 minutes prior to the incident. Class was traveling with traffic and in single file, participant was on the gravel and notifying the class of traffic from the rear. Jeff had just notified the Cadre and class of a vehicle from the rear when the incident occurred. The Cadre described a vehicle swerving onto the gravel and striking Jeff and only Jeff.
• When the incident occurred, the following actions occurred simultaneously:
• 1. Cadre called 911.
• 2. (1) class participant chased down the vehicle.
• 3. (4) class participants, including an EMT, began treating Jeff.
• The class participant that chased down the vehicle approached the driver who informed him, with slurred speech, that he had fallen asleep at the wheel. Additionally, the class participant observed (2) open pill bottles in the vehicle. The class participants continued to treat Jeff. Law Enforcement arrived 6 minutes after the incident and apprehended the driver of the vehicle and began their priorities of work.
• Emergency Medical Services arrived 8 minutes after the incident and moved Jeff to a local hospital.
• Jeff passed away, no official time of death has been reported. He was a husband and a father to a daughter and two sons, one of them a new born. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. My heart is broken for them - so is everyone's - and may he rest in peace. - Jason McCarthy