A military vehicle accident killed one Marine and injured more than a dozen more at the Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton, the service announced Wednesday.
An amphibious combat vehicle flipped during ground movement in a training exercise at around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the Marine Corps said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. One Marine died, while the 14 others in the vehicle at the time sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The service identified the deceased service member as Sgt. Matthew Bylski after notifying his next of kin, a common practice in the military. Names of the injured personnel are not being released “in accordance with Department of Defense policy,” the service said.
“Words fail to express our sorrow at the tragic loss of Sgt. Bylski; an outstanding Marine and a leader within his platoon,” Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in a statement on Thursday. “The MEU – the Marines who lived, trained, and learned from Sgt. Bylski, mourn alongside his family and friends. The entire 15th MEU ‘Vanguard’ family is affected by his absence.“(RELATED: US Military Grounds Entire Osprey Fleet After Latest Deadly Crash)
Bylski joined the Marine Corps in 2019, according to the statement. He was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and serving as a vehicle commander.
The 15 Marines belonged to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, organized to conduct a variety of specialized tasks for the U.S. including crisis response, amphibious operations and certain special operations activities, according to the unit’s website.
“Today, we proudly celebrate the rich legacy and steadfast spirit of Camp Pendleton. For 81 years, this hallowed ground has proved instrumental in shaping the finest warriors in our nation’s history. Happy Birthday, Camp Pendleton!”
Brig. Gen. Jason Woodworth, Commanding General pic.twitter.com/h3nMZbQRh9— Camp Pendleton (@MCIWPendletonCA) September 25, 2023
The incident is under investigation, the Marine Corps said in the statement. It’s unclear what caused the accident. Rollover accidents in tactical vehicles outside of combat operations are one of the most common causes of death among on-duty troops, according to Military.com.
Amphibious Combat Vehicles, or ACVs, have proven a particular headache for the Marine Corps since their introduction in 2020, Military.com reported. In January, an ACV tipped over in the waters just off Camp Pendleton’s beaches, but none of the Marines on board were injured. The Marine Corps fired the commander of the Marine Corps’ Assault Amphibian School following that incident.
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