Marines to take bodies of 4 killed in Ocotillo crash
OCOTILLO — The U.S. Marine Corps is expected to soon take possession of the bodies of the four crew members who died in a helicopter crash Tuesday afternoon 12 miles north of Ocotillo.
The bodies had been recovered Tuesday evening from the crash site jointly by the county Coroner’s Office and USMC personnel. They are currently being held at the local coroner’s facility.
“We have made arrangements and the Marines will take possession in the next day or so,” said county Deputy Coroner Derrick Lindberg. The identities of the four crew members were withheld and will be released by USMC until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification. The identities of the crew members had yet to be released as of press time Wednesday, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The four Marines were from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and were killed as a result of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crash at approximately 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing media release reported.
Only the four crew members were aboard the aircraft, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed.
The aircraft departed the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms to conduct squadron training consisting of aircraft landings in unimproved zones.
ICSO Chief Deputy Scott Sheppeard told Imperial Valley Press the area where the accident occurred was not accessible by road and Reach Air Ambulance was requested to fly to the site.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the brave service members and their families affected by this incident,” said Kristopher Haugh, public affairs officer for NAF El Centro. “We are thankful for the efforts of all who have responded to the scene and provided assistance,” he added.
President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the four U.S. Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing who lost their lives in yesterday’s Southern California helicopter crash. We pray for their families, and our great USMC.”
The crash was the deadliest involving a Marine aircraft since July 2017, when a KC130T transport plane that was headed to Naval Air Facility El Centro crashed and burned in Mississippi, resulting in the death of 15 U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman who were on board.