In a strange coincidence of events, the third soldier originally from Santa Clarita has been killed in Iraq….

Jose Ricardo Flored-Mejia, 21, was based in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.  He enlisted in the United States Army in May 2003 and was assigned to that location in October 2003, where he served as a motor transport operator.

Flores-Mejia was in Mosul, Iraw, when an explosive device hit his convoy, killing him.  His family was not available for comment, according to the Signal.

This incident is the third within the last month involving military personnel originally from Santa Clarita.  Last week, 19-year-old Army military police officer Cole Larsen was killed in a car crash, and last month Sagus graduate Richard Slocum was killed in another car crash in Iraq.

As of Thursday, the total number of American casualties has reached 1,216, according to the Associated Press.