A fiery accident involving an amphibious landing vehicle at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday left 15 Marines injured — five critically.
The personnel were taking part in regularly scheduled battalion training when the accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. in the San Mateo area of the military base near Oceanside, said 1st Lt. Paul Gainey, a spokesman for the USMC 1st Marine Division.
Eight Marines were taken to the burn center at UC San Diego Health, four to UC Irvine Medical Center and one to Scripps Memorial Hospital.
“Officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident at this time,” Gainey said at midday.
The amphibious vehicle caught fire during the accident, according to Gainey. Further details were not immediately available, he said.
The Marines were from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion.
— City News Service
