Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Army officials say the Fort Bliss soldiers hospitalized earlier this week drank antifreeze they mistook for alcohol.
On Thursday 11 soldiers assigned to Texas' Fort Bliss were hospitalized at William Beaumont Army Medical Center after drinking what officials described as an unknown substance.
On Friday afternoon Army officials announced the substance the soldiers ingested was antifreeze, and that two service members remained in critical condition.
Lt. Col. Allie Payne, a spokeswoman for the First Armored Division at Fort Bliss, told reporters Friday that the incident is under investigation by U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.
Maj. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe has also ordered an administrative investigation.
Lab tests determined the substance they'd consumed ethylene glycol, commonly referred to as antifreeze.
According to Payne, Army personnel are prohibited from consuming alcohol while on duty or in training.
Ten of the soldiers affected were enlisted personnel, and one was a warrant officer.
Payne said the two soldiers who were most seriously affected had shown notable improvement in intensive care, and the other nine were stable and likely to be released soon.
