Three of the four people killed in a single-vehicle crash on the southbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Downey were Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton, authorities said Monday.
All four were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday north of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Two of the deceased Marines were assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The third Marine was assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, according to First Lt. Sean Waterman at Camp Pendleton.
On Monday, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office identified three of the individuals killed as Daniel Nichols, 26, Joshua Moore Jr., 27, and Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez, 21. The name of the fourth victim was withheld, pending notification of relatives.
It was not immediately announced which of the victims identified were Marines.
Authorities believe the crash occurred after the driver of a Dodge Challenger lost control of their vehicle for an unknown reason and hit a guard rail on the side of the freeway before slamming into the wall beneath the Lemoran Avenue pedestrian bridge, according to KCAL.
The force of the collision “caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder,” said a statement from the California Highway Patrol.
KCAL reported all were ejected during the crash.
Source: Orange County Register
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