Soviets’ Ramming of GI Car Apparently Accidental, U.S. Says
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WASHINGTON — The Pentagon today backed off from an earlier suggestion that a Soviet truck may have purposely rammed a car carrying three Americans in East Germany two weeks ago, saying it now appears to have been an accident.
Pentagon spokesman Fred Hoffman said U.S. and Soviet military officials have met since the July 13 incident, which prompted an official U.S. protest.
One American soldier was injured slightly in the incident, which occurred late at night on a public highway northeast of Berlin.
“We’re still looking into the matter,” Hoffman said. “But there have been discussions with the Soviets. Indications are that the incident may not have been intentional.”
On July 16, when he first disclosed details of the event, Hoffman said that Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger was “very disturbed” and that a strong protest had been lodged.
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