Crime & Safety
3 Camp Pendleton Marines Killed In Fiery 5 Freeway Crash
Three of the four people killed in a single-vehicle crash on the 5 Freeway were Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton, authorities said.
SAN CLEMENTE, CA — Three of the four people who died in a fiery 5 Freeway crash Saturday were Camp Pendleton Marines, authorities said Monday.
Officers responded to the scene of the crash on the southbound 5 Freeway in Downey just north of the 605 Freeway at around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities said they believe the crash happened after the driver of a Dodge Challenger lost control of their car for an unknown reason and hit a guard rail on the side of the freeway before slamming into a wall, KCAL reported.
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The force of the crash “caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder,” said a statement from the California Highway Patrol.
KCAL reported that all four people inside of the vehicle were ejected.
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According to the OC Register, two of the deceased Marines were assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The third Marine was assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
No further information was immediately available.
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