EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Two Marines were killed, and another was severely injured last month in a crash, after the vehicle they were traveling in veered off the roadway to avoid oncoming traffic as it attempted to pass another vehicle, according to an accident report from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office obtained by KTSM.
As we previously reported, the crash occurred on Tuesday morning, April 15, during a convoy movement near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Officials identified the victims killed in the crash as Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, California, and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno, California. They were both combat engineers with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
According to the report, the severely injured Marine who was also driving the vehicle at the time of the crash was identified as Zeth Collins, 19.
On April 15, the three Marines were part of a convoy and were traveling west on Highway 9 in a Jeep truck while being led by Border Patrol, according to the report.
The report states the three Marines were the last of the convoy and approached a large commercial vehicle.
The driver of the Jeep, later identified as Collins, attempted to pass the commercial vehicle and swerved to the south shoulder to avoid an oncoming car that was traveling east.
The report states that the driver failed to clear the roadway before attempting to pass the commercial vehicle and did not see the vehicle headed eastbound, which caused him to swerve into the south shoulder.
The Jeep continued traveling on the south shoulder and ended up crashing into a wall of a ditch, according to the report.
The Jeep suffered heavy front-end damage, and the truck’s rear bed was bent upwards from the impact.
The report states the Jeep was traveling the posted speed limit and listed improper passing and driver inattention as contributing factors to the crash.
The 1st Marine Division said that the three Marines were taken to an El Paso hospital, where Aguilar and Gamino were pronounced dead.
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