15 Marines Injured In Training Accident At Camp Pendleton

Update: Fiery Training Accident That Injured 15 Marines Under Investigation

CAMP PENDLETON, CA – Fifteen U.S. Marines were injured in a training accident involving an amphibious landing vehicle Wednesday morning at Camp Pendleton, according to the Marine Corps.

The accident occurred shortly after 9:30 a.m. in the San Mateo area of the military base near Oceanside, said spokesman 1st Lt. Paul Gainey. The Marines were conducting a combat readiness evaluation on land as part of scheduled battalion training at the time of the accident. The assault amphibious vehicle, which is used to transport Marines from the sea to land, caught on fire during the training.

The injured Marines, from 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, were being treated for injuries, Gainey said.

Eight Marines – three in critical condition and five in serious condition – were medically evacuated to the Burn Center at UC San Diego Health. Four Marines – two in critical condition and two with an unknown medical condition – were taken to UC Irvine Medical Center. One Marine in stable condition was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. And two Marines were treated for minor injuries at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

"The 1st Marine Division would like to thank the civilian and military emergency personnel who responded immediately to the situation and allowed the injured Marines to receive rapid care," Gainey said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Marines and their families affected by this incident."

The incident was under investigation.