Accident in Oceanside
A tragic accident shook the community of Oceanside last weekend when a 20-year-old Marine lost his life in a rollover. According to Captain Virginia Burger of Marine Logistics Group 1 at Camp Pendleton, Marine Infantry Corporal Cristian Banuelos was the fatal victim of the crash that occurred on Saturday, June 15. Burger confirmed to ABC 10News that Banuelos was stationed at Camp Pendleton at the time of the accident. It was also reported that the two injured passengers in the incident were also Marines, but their identities were not disclosed.
The tragic incident took place around 5:45 a.m. on northbound Interstate 5 near Las Pulgas Road, as reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). A black BMW 440I carrying the three young Marines suddenly veered left for reasons still under investigation, impacting the center median barrier. Subsequently, the vehicle overturned as it veered back to the right, crashing violently into a telephone booth and a barbed wire fence.
Despite the rapid response from emergency teams and efforts to save the driver, he was pronounced dead at the scene. CHP identified the driver as a 20-year-old from Mount Vernon, Washington. The 21-year-old male passenger, a resident of Oceanside, sustained serious injuries that, while not life-threatening, required hospitalization. The 19-year-old female passenger suffered minor injuries and chose not to receive medical treatment at the scene.
At this time, CHP authorities have not determined whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the tragic accident. Anyone with relevant information about the incident is urged to contact the CHP office in Oceanside at 760-643-3400.
This incident has left the Camp Pendleton and Oceanside communities devastated, underscoring the loss of a promising young Marine and the serious consequences of car accidents on our roadways.
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