Marines die in Mexico crash

Two Marines from Camp Pendleton were killed and one Marine stationed in Yuma was injured in a car accident near Mexicali Friday morning, according to San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., police.


The two Marines from Camp Pendleton were part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Two female passengers traveling in the car were also killed.

The accident occurred on the highway between San Luis Rio Colorado and Mexicali, Baja Calif., about 3 a.m. Friday when the Marines' Mitsubishi Galant 2007 slammed into a light pole, police said.

Mexican police identified the five victims, but the Yuma Sun is not releasing their names until confirmation that next of kin have been notified.

The Public Affairs Office at MCAS Yuma was not available for comment Sunday, but a press release from Camp Pendleton confirmed the Marine deaths.

The Yuma Marine was taken to a hospital in Mexicali and then transferred to Yuma Regional Medical Center, police said.

Officials at YRMC could not comment on the condition of the Marine or the extent of his injuries Sunday.

Police said the vehicle had  been stopped for speeding, but the driver fled from officers after being unable to present a vehicle registration for inspection.

The wrecked vehicle was later found in Ejido Puebla, a community near San Luis Rio Colorado, police said.

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Chris McDaniel can be reached at cmcdaniel@yumasun.com or 539-6849.