3 Marines killed in crash in Laguna Niguel (KTLA-TV) |
DANA POINT, Calif. (KTLA) -- Investigators say speed and alcohol were the primary factors in a crash that killed three Camp Pendleton Marines and left a fourth in critical condition.
The crash happened the intersection of Golden Lantern and Terra Vista around 2 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.
The Marines were traveling in a 2005 Dodge Stratus at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control, hitting a curb before slamming into a tree, Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.
Two of the Marines died at the scene. A third was pronounced dead at Mission Hospital.
They have been identified as Cpl. Jason Chleborad, 22, of Rapid City, S.D., Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan, 23, of Chadron, Neb. and Cpl. Christopher Arzola, 21, of Westfied, Mass.
All three were with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during its recent deployment to Afghanistan.
They enlisted in 2008 and were data network specialists, who installed and maintained computer-based information systems.
Chleborad and Callahan each received a combat action ribbon for having been under fire and returned fire.
Arzola had received a good conduct medal.
The driver, also a Marine, survived, but remains hospitalized in critical condition.
His name has not been released.
The crash was the second fatal traffic accident in Southern California involving enlisted Marines in less than a week.
Cpl. Pedro Conceicao, 24, stationed at the Marine air station in Yuma, was killed Sunday in a rollover accident at about 3:25 a.m. in the Mission Valley area of San Diego.
The driver, Cpl. Ashley Maya, 21, was unable to negotiate the turn from Highway 163 to eastbound Interstate 8.
Conceicao and another passenger were ejected from the vehicle.
The second victim ejected received major injuries.
The third person traveling in the rear of the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Maya was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter.
She was unhurt, according to the CHP.
The crash happened the intersection of Golden Lantern and Terra Vista around 2 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.
The Marines were traveling in a 2005 Dodge Stratus at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control, hitting a curb before slamming into a tree, Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.
Two of the Marines died at the scene. A third was pronounced dead at Mission Hospital.
They have been identified as Cpl. Jason Chleborad, 22, of Rapid City, S.D., Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan, 23, of Chadron, Neb. and Cpl. Christopher Arzola, 21, of Westfied, Mass.
All three were with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during its recent deployment to Afghanistan.
They enlisted in 2008 and were data network specialists, who installed and maintained computer-based information systems.
Chleborad and Callahan each received a combat action ribbon for having been under fire and returned fire.
Arzola had received a good conduct medal.
The driver, also a Marine, survived, but remains hospitalized in critical condition.
His name has not been released.
The crash was the second fatal traffic accident in Southern California involving enlisted Marines in less than a week.
Cpl. Pedro Conceicao, 24, stationed at the Marine air station in Yuma, was killed Sunday in a rollover accident at about 3:25 a.m. in the Mission Valley area of San Diego.
The driver, Cpl. Ashley Maya, 21, was unable to negotiate the turn from Highway 163 to eastbound Interstate 8.
Conceicao and another passenger were ejected from the vehicle.
The second victim ejected received major injuries.
The third person traveling in the rear of the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Maya was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter.
She was unhurt, according to the CHP.
