A 26-year-old Navy sailor was killed and five others were injured in a chain reaction accident involving a convoy of military trucks south of Interstate 5, near San Onofre State Beach, on Tuesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The accident happened south of Basilone Road at about 6:50 am, when the five-truck convoy started to slow down for unknown reasons, said CHP official Juan Escobar.
“One of the truck’s trailers was pushed into the cab, causing fatal injuries to the driver,” who died at the scene, Escobar said in a statement.
The sailor’s name has not been released.
“The sailor was assigned to the Mobile Naval Construction Battalion 5, based at the Ventura County Naval Base,” said Brian O’Rourke, spokesman for the Southwestern Navy.
The other injured sailors – three men and two women, all in their 20s – were taken to Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital and Mission County in Orange County for medical treatment. One of the men suffered serious injuries; the four other sailors suffered minor injuries, said Escobar.
All of the sailors involved in the accident were linked to the Ventura County construction battalion, said the lieutenant commander. Amber Lewis, spokesman for the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command.
“We regret the loss of our shipmate, our thoughts and prayers are with the Sailor’s family, friends and co-workers during this difficult time,” Lewis said in a statement. The convoy was on its way to Camp Pendleton to pick up equipment for a field exercise, Lewis said.
Two lanes to the south were closed and traffic was paralyzed to the Orange County line in the afternoon while the accident was being investigated.
Anyone with information has been asked to call the CHP’s Oceanside office at (760) 643-3400.
Andrew Dyer, editor of the Union-Tribune team, contributed to this report.