UPDATE: According to the The Ranger, the parents of one of the four Army aviators killed when two helicopters crashed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord say their son was a veteran of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Silvia Buoniconti of Colorado Springs, Colo., told The Colorado Springs Gazette that her son, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Frank Buoniconti III, was among those killed in Monday night's accident," The Ranger reported.

Click here to read the whole story.

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Four Army aviators were killed in an accident involving two Army helicopters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Monday night, according to officials.

The crash occurred sometime after 8 p.m.

The accident involved two OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopters. It took place inside the southwest training area at JBLM, near Rainier in Thurston County, about 30 miles south of Tacoma.

Names of the dead have not been released pending notification of next of kin plus 24 hours, in accordance with Defense Department policy.

An investigation into the cause of the accident has already begun by local authorities at JBLM. The Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, AL, will lead the overall investigation into the accident.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the Soldiers involved in this tragic accident,” said Major General Lloyd Miles, acting senior Army commander at JBLM and deputy commanding general of I Corps. “We will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, and we will do everything in our power to support the families of the brave Soldiers who died this evening.”

A meteorologist with Accuweather.com reports that fog draped the vicinity of the crash. 

More information will be provided as it becomes available and as the investigation progresses.

This is the second helicopter crash in five years that involved soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In 2006, three soldiers from then-Fort Lewis died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in a rural area about an hour south of Seattle.

The 2006 crash occurred during a night training mission.

(Joint Base Lewis-McChord contributed to this story)