This is sad...
By Rick Rogers
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
signonsandiego.com
November 25, 2003
CAMP PENDLETON – The three Camp Pendleton Marines killed in an auto crash Sunday morning were all from the same unit and had recently returned from Iraq.
Cpl. Scott A. Stasney, 21, of Marathon, Wis., Lance Cpl. Chad N. Garner, 20, of Washington, Pa., and Pvt. Michael A. Newton, 19, of Mecklenburg, Va., died in a two-vehicle accident around 12:15 a.m. Sunday in Fallbrook.
The Marines were assigned to the 1st Transport Support Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, First Marine Expeditionary Force.
In the Sunday accident, Newton, with Stasney and Garner as passengers, was speeding westbound on East Mission Road in a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse when he lost control and the car veered into the eastbound lane, the California Highway Patrol said. He overcorrected and crossed in front of a truck driven by another Marine, the CHP said.
After the two vehicles collided, the Mitsubishi smashed into a tree north of East Mission, police said. The three Marines in the car died at the scene.
The 20-year-old man driving the truck was not injured. His passenger suffered minor injuries.
A fourth Marine died after another auto accident Friday night in Vista. A car driven by Pfc. Aaron M. Owens, 19, of Okarche, Okla., hit a sport utility vehicle and another car at South Melrose Drive and Live Oak Road. Owens was pronounced dead at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.
Additionally, Pendleton officials Monday announced the death of Lance Cpl. Erick Roman. He died Saturday at Arrowhead Medical Center in Colton from a head injury suffered while off duty, according to a Pendleton news release.
Roman, a native of Ontario in San Bernardino County, was a telephone systems/personal computer repairman. No further details were available. |
