JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Two Marines were killed and two others were airlifted to a local hospital after a crash involving a military vehicle from Camp Lejeune on Wednesday.
The driver of the vehicle, Louis Barrera, 19, of Springfield, Tenn., is facing charges of exceeding safe speed and two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, according to the NC State Highway Patrol.
The crash happened in the area of US Hwy. 17 and NC Hwy. 210 in Onslow County, about eight miles from Camp Lejeune, around 1 p.m. Troopers investigating the crash said the military truck overturned after attempting a right turn onto US Hwy. 17 from NC Hwy. 210. It overturned into the median of US 17.
There were 19 Marines with 2nd Marine Logistics Group II Marine Expeditionary Force in all in the vehicle, 17 who were ejected during the crash. A second military truck that was behind the one that overturned was unable to stop in time and struck one of the Marines that was ejected, troopers said.
Sgt. Devin Rich with the N.C. State Highway Patrol confirmed the two dead in a press conference held around 4:40 p.m. Officials said Wednesday night in a press release the two other Marines that were airlifted by helicopter were sent to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.
Onslow County Sheriff’s deputies assisted at the scene along with the NC State Highway Patrol and military police, fire and rescue from Camp Lejeune. Firefighters from Turkey Creek Fire Department also responded.
Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, military crews worked to remove the crashed vehicle from the scene so it could be returned to Camp Lejeune as part of the investigation. Traffic was backed up and was being diverted as crews worked at the site of the crash.
The roads were reopened again to traffic just before 6 p.m. Wednesday.
