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| Steve Kaufmann/KTVZ-TV via AP photo |
A crew are filming the tank firing rounds Whenever ones blast occurred Tuesday east connected with Bend, killing vehicle owner Steven Todd Preston, 51, AS WELL AS Austin Tyler Lee, 22, Deschutes County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson said.
Nelson said ones cause of an blast are under investigation along with the online video was to be able to be used intended for a good exhibit, but did not supply additional details. Steve Greenberg, a good close friend connected with Preston’s AS WELL AS fellow tank owner, said his friend had fired rounds before ALONG WITH “everything worked fine.”
He said they were “testing a number of armor plate” When your current explosion occurred. Preston am very safety-conscious, which is to be why your accident will be even additional shocking, Greenberg said.
Preston’s close friends said he feel an military vehicle collector exactly who owned ones tank AND a good World War II amphibious vehicle, a great Humvee, a good military motorcycle AS WELL AS an vintage observation plane.
“His passion are through the tank AS WELL AS within World War II history AND ALSO collecting memorabilia,” said Dennis Ripp, president of any Military Vehicle Collectors tavern connected with Oregon. Preston feel the former president of any group AS WELL AS was the board member of an national Military Vehicle Preservation Association, Ripp said.
“I’ve been broken up most day information on his death,” said Ripp, another close friend.
Paramedics screened to be able to save your own men, but they died coming from it is injuries.
The armored vehicle is often a 1944 M18 Hellcat, that is to be technically an tank destroyer, ones sheriff said. Preston’s friends said he took It to be able to parades, fundraisers, auctions ALONG WITH live history displays at schools.
“People would donate dollars AND he’d provide them tank rides,” Ripp said. “He am the guy, a great super guy. He in case assist people in projects.”
Greenberg said Preston acquired your current tank – the surplus vehicle – through a great dealer within Denver, which had imported The item via Yugoslavia.
“It feel throughout a great rough shape AND ALSO Steve did an beautiful employment restoring it,” Greenberg said. “He spent many years hunting around to buy original parts, knick-knacks similar to binoculars, flashlights, all of the tools.”
Greenberg said Preston possesses friends world-wide because the he traveled for you to additional nations around the world to search for vehicle parts. He furthermore said Preston \'m licensed because of the U.S. Bureau connected with Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms AS WELL AS Explosives to fire live ammunition through the tank.
Greenberg said they IN ADDITION TO its tanks took segment throughout a great commercial for the movie game “World connected with Tanks” That am shot last week.
In 2011, your own Discovery Channel filmed Preston intended for the reality series. AS WELL AS he took portion at the Smithsonian Channel sequence “The Weapons Hunter,” catered on rare military artifacts, It is due for you to air and then month.
Preston AS WELL AS another friend had started up an nonprofit AND ALSO planned to be able to Produce a museum to be able to display your historic vehicles, Greenberg said.
He said Preston, whom owned an Portland towing company, leaves behind a great wife AND two children.
“He feel generous, caring, he are there pertaining to other people. The idea breaks MY PERSONAL heart The idea he is usually gone,” Greenberg said.
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