Military authorities have announced that a 20-year-old Pennsylvania National Guard member was killed over the weekend during a training accident.
At Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, Specialist Mackenzie Shay, of New Castle, perished on October 22 in a collision involving two military vehicles.
Three additional troops who were hurt in the crash received medical attention at Hershey Medical Center and have since been discharged.
Her mother, Tina Lee Shay, said she “can’t even begin” to express how the family is feeling in a brief interview with The Post on Tuesday morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Specialist Mackenzie Shay’s family, friends and colleagues after this tragic accident,” Army Maj. Gen. Mark J. Schindler said in a statement.
“Our priority right now is taking care of the family and soldiers, ensuring they have all the resources they need during this critical time.”
Investigations are still ongoing to determine the accident’s cause.
Shay was a 92F Army petroleum supply expert serving with Company G, 128th Brigade Support Battalion, 28th Infantry Division.
According to a Monday article in the New Castle News, she attended Slippery Rock University while also graduating from Mohawk High School in 2020.
“It broke my heart to hear this,” David Bredl, Shay’s former high school cross-country and track coach, told the local newspaper. “[Mackenzie] was a really smart girl. She was a little feisty and fiery, and always tried to do her best and make her mark. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her.”
Shay started talking about joining the military in her junior year, Bredl said. She had a job lined up in Colorado for after college, and loved being in the National Guard, Pittsburgh’s Action 4 News reported.
All state and federal flags, including those at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, were ordered to fly at half-staff in Shay’s honour by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
The flags will stay down until the yet-to-be-determined date of incarceration.
