1 Marine dead, 6 injured after training accident at Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON — One Marine was killed and six others were injured during a routine training exercise on the base, Thursday, May 9.

Marines from the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion were doing regularly scheduled training at Camp Pendleton when the light armored vehicle they were riding in rolled over at about 9 a.m., said 1st Lt. Cameron Edinburgh.

The identity of the Marine who died will be withheld until next of kin have been notified, Edinburgh said. The six other Marines were evacuated by air and ground to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Their injuries are not life-threatening, he said.

Marine Corps officials are investigating the cause of the accident.

“This is a tragic event and our thoughts are with the family, friends and the unit at this difficult time,” Edinburgh said.

Last month, Staff Sgt. Joshua Braica of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion also was killed when his tactical vehicle, a Polaris MRZR, rolled over. Two other Raiders were injured.

That accident occurred April 13 as the battalion was in the final weeks of pre-deployment training. Braica was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital where he died a day later. The accident remains under investigation.