3 Marines Injured in CA Tactical Vehicle Accident

Three marines were injured in a tactical vehicle accident at a training area at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California on Friday, April 7, 2023. Three of the four marines in the vehicle were injured during the accident and were transported to the hospital, where they were treated and released the same day.

Although officials were reportedly unable to confirm the details of the incident, including what time the accident took place or specific details of the marines’ injuries, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brandon Owen, a base spokesperson, stated, “Adherence to safety standards is an essential component of taking care of Marines and Sailors and the conduct of effective training.” Owen indicated that the combat center would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to find out what happened and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The new on-duty accident comes at a time when tactical vehicle accidents are of great concern. According to a 2021 Government Accountability Office report, “123 troops, mostly Marines and soldiers, died in non-combat tactical vehicle incidents between 2010–2019.” Those deaths were largely attributed to driver inattention, lack of supervision, and inadequate training.

Parents of servicemembers injured or killed in other tactical vehicle accidents have voiced concern that leadership higher up the chain of command deserve to take responsibility for the accidents. Critics have called for stricter training and safety protocols to reduce the incidence of on-duty injuries and fatalities during training exercises.

In addition to potential liability from military leadership, vehicle manufacturers may also be held accountable if product defects are found to have contributed to a tactical vehicle rollover or other accident. Read the Marine Corps Times article for more information on the recent accident in Twentynine Palms.