13 Marines injured in bus crash

[thedrifter]

13 Marines injured in bus crash
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March 5, 2009 - 8:28 AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Two buses carrying Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit collided on northbound U.S. 17 in Jones County this morning, and 13 Marines were injured, MEU spokesman Capt. Clark Carpenter said.

All 13 injured Marines were transported to Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, and reports indicate the injuries were not serious, Carpenter said. Initial reports about Marines being transported to other hospitals were incorrect, he said.

Fifty-nine Marines and one sailor were headed to Norfolk, Va. in three buses to board the ships of the USS Bataan Strike Group for the MEU's certification exercise, the last exercise the 22nd MEU is scheduled to complete before deploying this spring, Carpenter said.

New buses have already arrived to transport the uninjured Marines and sailors to Norfolk as soon as the crash scene is cleared, Carpenter said.

"This accident, while unfortunate, will not prevent us from completing the mission" of the certification exercise or getting ready for deployment, Carpenter said.

The buses collided at about 7:45 this morning, and emergency responders were on the scene within about 20 minutes, Carpenter said. Onslow County sent rescue personnel to the scene of the crash to help, Sheriff Ed Brown said.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

TROOPERS: Bus Driver Charged In Charter Crash

Posted: 8:09 AM Mar 5, 2009
Last Updated: 8:15 PM Mar 5, 2009
Reporter: Heather King

JONES COUNTY, NC -- Highway Patrol has now identified and charged the bus driver involved in Thursday mornings crash involving three charter buses full of Marines in Jones County.


Troopers say the driver is John Tipton. No age or hometown is immediately available. Tipton is charged with failure to reduce speed. At last check he was in critical condition.

Just two of the thirteen Marines injured remain in the hospital.

A Camp Lejeune spokesman says both Marines, one being treated at their Naval Hospital and the other at New Hanover Regional, are in stable condition.

Fifty-nine Marines and one sailor were on the three charter buses when they crashed just before 8:00 a.m. The chain reaction accident happened on Highway 17 in Jones County, just north of Maysville.

State troopers say the buses were following a line a vehicles when one vehicle stopped to make a left turn. Troopers say the first two buses stopped, but the third did not.

Highway 17 was closed for more than three hours as rescuers removed the injured and the buses were removed from the highway.

The Marines were on their way to Norfolk to embark aboard the ships of the Bataan Strike Group for the MEU’s final exercise prior to deployment this spring.

The Marine Corps says Marines who were uninjured in the accident continued to Norfolk aboard replacement buses.


Previous Story

Three charter buses full of Camp Lejeune Marines crashed this morning in Jones County and state troopers say charges are pending against one of the bus drivers.

That driver was airlifted to PCMH in critical condition. Fifty-nine Marines and one sailor were onboard the buses. Thirteen Marines were injured and taken to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville for treatment. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

The Jones County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened on Highway 17 between Pollocksville and Maysville just before 8 a.m. Traffic on Highway 17 from Jacksonville was backed up for miles, but as of 11:10 a.m. all lanes were open again.

The Highway Patrol says the accident involved three buses and two sport utility vehicles. Troopers say several vehicles were stopped for another vehicle attempting to make a left turn off Highway 17. The first two buses stopped, but the third did not and started the chain reaction accident.

The buses are from All Together Tours, which is based in the Halifax County town of Enfield.

Capt. Carpenter with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune says the Marines were headed to Norfolk today ahead of certification exercises scheduled to begin on March 10, in advance of deployment overseas this spring. Carpenter says the Marines would be training with Bataan Strike Group.

Ellie