RAF MILDENHALL, England — An airman from RAF Lakenheath who died after being struck by a vehicle Monday night has been identified as Airman 1st Class Tyler Patton, a Security Forces apprentice with the 48th Security Forces Squadron.

“Tyler was a combat veteran, a true patriot and a friend to all,” Col. William Lewis, 48th Fighter Wing vice commander, was quoted as saying in an Air Force news release. “He will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

The driver of the vehicle that hit Patton on the main road outside RAF Mildenhall on Monday night was an airman from RAF Mildenhall’s 352nd Special Operations Group. His name was not released

From staff reports