Army sergeant dies during tank training in Santa Maria, RS A Brazilian Army sergeant died on Tuesday morning (7) during military training at the Santa Maria Instruction Field, in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. The cavalry sergeant was in an armored vehicle of the Leopard 1A5 model that fell on a bridge, overturned and was submerged in an area of ??the military educational institution. Another five soldiers who participated in the activity with combat vehicles were rescued without injuries. The command of the 6th Armored Infantry Brigade (6th Bda Inf Bld) opened an investigation to investigate the case. ? Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp Who is the victim? The victim is third cavalry sergeant Nícolas Martins, aged 20. The soldier is from Joinville (SC), had been in the military institution for two years and had lived in Santa Maria for five months. The sergeant's burial will take place this Wednesday (8) in the city of Santa Catarina. How did the accident happen? The accident occurred around 8:30 am on Tuesday (7) during a training exercise by the 1st Tank Regiment (1st RCC). The military used two Armored Combat Vehicles (VBC) of the Leopard 1A5 model. One of the armored vehicles overturned while passing over a bridge, overturned and was submerged with the sergeant inside the vehicle. Who was rescued? Another five soldiers who manned the two vehicles involved in the training exercise were rescued at the scene. According to information from the Social Communication Section of the 6th Bda Inf Bld, these soldiers received medical attention and did not suffer any injuries. What does the Army say? The command of the 6th Bda Inf Bld declared, in an official note, that it deeply regrets the soldier's death and informed that it is providing the necessary support to Nícolas Martins' family. The corporation also stated that all administrative safety procedures for instruction were previously established and followed during the training activity. What will the investigation be like? The Brazilian Army launched a Military Police Inquiry (IPM) to investigate the facts and circumstances of the accident with the armored vehicle. The Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul will not carry out investigations into the case, which will be restricted to the military sphere. The investigation of the Military Police Inquiry must clarify the technical and human causes that led the Leopard 1A5 armored vehicle to fall onto the bridge and overturn at the training site. The victim is the third cavalry sergeant Nícolas Martins, 20 years old, born in Joinville Reproduction/RBS TV What the 6th Armored Infantry Brigade says "The Command of the 6th Armored Infantry Brigade (6th Bda Inf Bld) informs, through its Social Communication Section, that on July 7, 2026, at around 8:30 am, an accident occurred involving two vehicles Armored Combat Vehicles (VBC) Leopard 1A5, during a training exercise of the 1st Combat Car Regiment (1st RCC), at the Santa Maria Training Field. As a result of the accident, 3rd Cavalry Sergeant Nícolas Martins died. The other soldiers manning the vehicles involved did not suffer physical damage. A Military Police Inquiry was opened with the purpose of investigating the circumstances of what happened. It should be noted that all applicable measures are being adopted and that administrative safety procedures for instruction were previously established and duly observed during the exercise. The 6th Bda Inf Bld deeply regrets the incident and informs that it is providing all necessary support to the soldier's family." Army Sergeant dies during tank training in Santa Maria, RS Reproduction/RBS TV VIDEOS: All about RS