Photo: Lance Cpl. Austin M. Livingston, MCIEAST Combat/DoD / Courtesy
Two Marines were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in a traffic accident on Wednesday near Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, according to authorities.
Seventeen other Marines were injured in the accident after they were ejected from the back of a 7-ton military vehicle as its driver tried to turn onto a highway just miles from the base around 1 p.m., according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Two of the injured were airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, while the others 15 were transported by land, according to ABC News.
The driver of the truck, Louis Barrera, from 19 years, has been charged with exceeding a safe speed and two counts of misdemeanor death in a motor vehicle, according to the highway patrol.
A Marine who was ejected from the truck was struck by another vehicle police officer who was following the accident, said the police.
The vehicle was transporting a total of 19 Marines, all from 2nd Marine Logistics Group, stationed at Camp Lejeune. The driver, Barrera, and the passenger in the front of the vehicle were uninjured.
Officials will release the identifications of the victims once the authorities have been notified. family members.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing, the North Carolina Highway Patrol said.
North Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt Devin Rich said at a press conference that he was not sure if the incident occurred during a training mission.
The 2nd Marine Logistics Group had initially posted on Twitter: “We are aware of a vehicle rollover in Jacksonville, North Carolina involving service members with the 2nd MLG. We are working closely with @camp_lejeune and Onslow County officials to gather details on this incident. “
We are aware of a vehicle rollover in Jacksonville, North Carolina, involving service members with 2nd MLG. We are working closely with @camp_lejeune and Onslow County officials to gather details regarding this incident. We will release more information as it becomes available.
— 2nd Marine Logistics Group (@2ndMLG) January 19, 2537467
Camp Lejeune military base is located in southeastern North Carolina North along the Atlantic coast. It is home to more than 30,000 persons.
Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper expressed his condolences to the families of the Marines killed in the accident: “I send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the US Marines who lost their lives in a tragic accident today in Onslow County. We are so proud of our military heroes at Camp Lejeune and throughout North Carolina. Our prayers are with them. -RC”
I send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the US Marines who lost their lives in a tragic accident today in Onslow County. We are so proud of our military heroes at Camp Lejeune and across North Carolina. Our prayers go out to them. – RC – Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) January 19, 2022