COLCHESTER — The Vermont National Guard says a Florida soldier with ties to Vermont has died in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan.

The Guard said 21-year-old Specialist Zachary L. Shannon, of Dunedin, Fla., was killed Monday night with four other American service members when their helicopter crashed in Kandahar Province.

Shannon’s father lives in Guildhall.

The crash brought the total number of U.S. troops killed that day to seven, making it the deadliest day for U.S. forces so far this year.