VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #2030/01 1790514
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280514Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6799

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR: D, CA, AF/EX, PM AND DS/IP/AF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KJUS MASS ODIP ET
SUBJECT: U.S. SOLDIER BASED AT EMBASSY INVOLVED IN FATAL MOTOR 
VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH LOCAL PEDESTRIAN 
 
¶1. (U) On June 25, 2007, at approximately 0950 hours, an Amcit 
active duty U.S. Army soldier (E-4 Specialist) based at the U.S. 
Embassy in Addis Ababa was involved in a fatal motor vehicle 
accident resulting in the death of a Ethiopian national pedestrian 
(female, 40 to 50 years of age). 
 
¶2. (U) The soldier was driving a vehicle rented by his organization 
from his residence in Addis Ababa en route to the Embassy.  Another 
soldier serving with the same organization was a passenger in this 
vehicle.  The Ethiopian female pedestrian reportedly crossed the 
street into the direction of the vehicle's travel from a blind spot 
(behind a transit bus), when she struck the vehicle's passenger side 
door in the area of the side view mirror. 
 
¶3. (U) After the accident, the soldiers reportedly continued driving 
approximately one quarter to a half a mile where they located a 
police officer and reported the accident.  The police officer 
boarded the vehicle and returned to the scene of the accident with 
the soldiers.  The pedestrian was reportedly lying on the ground 
with her head covered by a plastic bag, presumably deceased. 
 
¶4. (U) A large crowd of local bystanders was at the scene, some 
acting in a hostile manner (yelling and spitting on the soldiers). 
The bystanders loaded the female pedestrian into the soldier's 
vehicle, and the soldiers proceeded to a local hospital accompanied 
by the police officer. 
 
¶5. (U) Upon arriving at the hospital, the pedestrian was officially 
declared deceased.  The soldiers contacted Addis Ababa MSG Post 1 at 
1055 hours via cell phone.  MSG Post 1 notified the Regional 
Security Office (RSO), and the Embassy's Local Guard Force (LGF) 
mobile patrols were dispatched to the hospital, followed by the RSO 
Foreign Service National Investigator (FSNI) and Assistant RSO 
(ARSO). 
 
¶6. (U) The LGF mobile patrol, FSNI, and ARSO remained with the 
soldiers for the duration of the day, proceeding from the hospital 
to the local morgue, to the scene of the accident (to document the 
incident) and eventually the local traffic police command. 
 
¶7. (U) While the soldier driving the vehicle had an Ethiopian 
driver's license, he did not posses a diplomatic identity card 
granting him the necessary immunities from arrest.  Throughout the 
course of the day, the Embassy's RSO, Management Officer, and 
Defense Attach contacted their respective local contacts in an 
effort to resolve this matter.  The Director General of the 
Ethiopian Police agreed to release the soldier to the custody of the 
Embassy in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in 
effect, with the assurance from the Chief of Mission and RSO that he 
would not leave the country until this matter is resolved. 
 
¶8. (SBU) At approximately 1945 hours, the soldier was released and 
returned to the Embassy compound with the ARSO.  The soldier agreed 
to not leave the Embassy compound until this matter is resolved (he 
will reside in a residence on the compound and not leave for any 
reason).  The soldier's Commanding Officer (Captain) understands 
this situation and expressed his support and appreciation for the 
efforts taken to resolve this matter.  In accordance to the SOFA, it 
is unlikely the soldier will face criminal charges.  However, a 
local compensation board will likely require that compensation be 
paid to the victim's family. The day after the accident, the soldier 
was issued a diplomatic identity card (already in process) from the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, providing him protection from criminal 
prosecution but not civil immunities. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) On June 27, RSO met with the Director General (DG) of the 
Ethiopian Federal Police to express appreciation for the assistance 
rendered, as well as to seek guidance on this matter.  The DG 
advised RSO that the police investigation was completed and that the 
matter would be referred to the prosecutor's office upon completion 
of the autopsy report.  The DG stated that given the immunities 
provided by the SOFA and the soldier's diplomatic status, criminal 
prosecution was not likely; however, a civil case (seeking monetary 
compensation for the victim's family) was likely.  The DG 
recommended that the Embassy engage an attorney to follow this case 
and bring all the various elements together to closure. 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT:  Motor vehicle accidents involving vehicles and 
pedestrians are almost always locally adjudicated in favor of the 
pedestrian regardless of the situation.  Expatriate motorists face 
an even more difficult situation in these types of situations.  The 
RSO has no reason to believe this incident was anything more then a 
unfortunate accident resulting in a tragic death of a pedestrian who 
suddenly entered the roadway into the direction of the vehicle's 
travel. 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Director General of Police is a close and readily 
available contact for the Embassy, and deserves special recognition 
for quickly ordering the release of the soldier in light of possible 
public criticism.  It is in the best interest of all concerned that 
 
the USG quickly resolve this situation in accordance with local 
custom and jurisprudence.  Failure to do so could complicate 
bilateral relations between the U.S. and Ethiopian military.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
YAMAMOTO