Steven Paul Clark Soldier and Simi Valley native Steven Paul Clark was killed in a car accident Aug. 20 in Tacoma, Wash., near his Fort Lewis base.

Clark was an Army Ranger with the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and had recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. He was 19 years old.

According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Brandy Kessler, Clark was driving his 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup on the southbound lane of Interstate 5 when his vehicle left the right shoulder of the roadway.

Kessler said the truck hit a guardrail and vaulted, striking an overpass sign. The truck then rolled, landing about 60 feet off the freeway.

Clark was pronounced dead at the scene.

Washington state troopers investigated the scene for about three hours after the 12:40 a.m. crash. Autopsy and toxicology reports are not yet available.

"There was no speed involved, and at this point no alcohol or drugs are suspected," Kessler said. "We believe he may have just fallen asleep."

She said Clark was wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident.

Following his 2007 graduation from Royal High School, Clark joined the Army and endured 14 weeks of basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.

After completing the basic Airborne course last January, he entered the intensive Ranger indoctrination program, graduating in March.

Soon after being stationed at Fort Lewis in April, Clark was deployed to Iraq.

Tracy Bailey, spokesperson for the 75th Ranger Regiment, could not give any details about his deployment.

Bailey did say that she admired Clark's service because officers and enlisted soldiers have to volunteer for the Ranger Regiment, a combat-deployable, light-infantry unit that has some of the toughest training in the entire U.S. military.

"For Steven, as young as he was, to join the Army and go to airborne school, which is not easy, and then come to us makes him a remarkable young man," Bailey said.

"It's a tough program to get into, and we take the best."

Because of his service in the War on Terror, Clark received a national defense service medal.

Since his passing, Clark's MySpace page has become a makeshift memorial for friends and former classmates to share their memories and grief. Those closest to Clark remember him as a good person who always made them smile.

Justin Carnahan, who was on Royal's wrestling team with Clark, left this message Aug. 21:

"Steven, I looked up to you, man. You always put a smile on my face, and you always had one on your own. You're an amazing person, and I still can't believe what has happened. I will always remember our time together inside and out of the wrestling room."

Janis Bowers wrote on Aug. 24: "It is a horrible tragedy that your life ended so soon. . . . I always knew you were an incredible young man and have seen in the last four days that you were, even more than I knew. The comments posted here and in your friends' bulletins and blogs all tell of a truly caring, positive person who had a lasting impact on everyone he encountered. You will be missed immensely."