A U.S. Marine was killed on Monday when he was hit by a truck on the freeway near Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, after stopping to help two people involved in a vehicle crash.
The San Diego Tribune reported that the Marine’s name has not been released; however, authorities confirmed that he was 20-years-old and was stationed at Camp Pendleton.
The passenger and driver from the initial crash – which was reported around 3:22 a.m. south of Las Pulgas Road – were transported to a local hospital with major injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP said the driver of a Ford Edge was traveling south when he lost control and crashed. The car was left stranded in the middle of the freeway with no lights on.
When the young Marine stopped to help the people in the SUV, a 47-year-old driving a box truck crashed into them. The Marine died at the scene of the accident.
CHP Sgt. Nicole Pacheco said the SUV driver would be taken to jail after being released from the hospital due to a possible connection to multiple felony charges.
Officers shut down most of the southbound lanes while the scene was investigated following the fatal accident. Roughly five hours after a traffic alert was issued, three of the four closed lanes were reopened, helping to relieve traffic that was backed up for miles between San Diego County and Orange County.
Also in San Diego, Marine Corps personnel shot and killed an individual armed with a knife trying to breach a gate checkpoint to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California late last month.
The individual was driving a vehicle that had attempted to enter the base through the Gate 5 checkpoint and was stopped by base personnel. The driver exited the vehicle and approached personnel with a knife, ignored warnings, and was shot dead.
“Base personnel issued verbal commands to stop the vehicle at which point the individual exited their vehicle and approached with a knife and hostile intent. After several warnings the individual was shot by base personnel,” Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego said in a statement provided to American Military News.
“Emergency services were called and the individual was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:16 p.m.,” the statement added.
