Latest news with #1stMarineDivision
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Marines killed in crash as vehicle attempts to pass another, report says
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Two Marines were killed, and another was severely injured last month in a crash, after the vehicle they were traveling in veered off the roadway to avoid oncoming traffic as it attempted to pass another vehicle, according to an accident report from the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office obtained by KTSM. Marines killed in military vehicle crash identified As we previously reported, the crash occurred on Tuesday morning, April 15, during a convoy movement near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Officials identified the victims killed in the crash as Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, California, and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno, California. They were both combat engineers with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. According to the report, the severely injured Marine who was also driving the vehicle at the time of the crash was identified as Zeth Collins, 19. On April 15, the three Marines were part of a convoy and were traveling west on Highway 9 in a Jeep truck while being led by Border Patrol, according to the report. UPDATE: 2 dead, 1 injured in military vehicle crash in Santa Teresa The report states the three Marines were the last of the convoy and approached a large commercial vehicle. The driver of the Jeep, later identified as Collins, attempted to pass the commercial vehicle and swerved to the south shoulder to avoid an oncoming car that was traveling east. The report states that the driver failed to clear the roadway before attempting to pass the commercial vehicle and did not see the vehicle headed eastbound, which caused him to swerve into the south shoulder. The Jeep continued traveling on the south shoulder and ended up crashing into a wall of a ditch, according to the report. The Jeep suffered heavy front-end damage, and the truck's rear bed was bent upwards from the impact. The report states the Jeep was traveling the posted speed limit and listed improper passing and driver inattention as contributing factors to the crash. The 1st Marine Division said that the three Marines were taken to an El Paso hospital, where Aguilar and Gamino were pronounced dead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Service members killed in border crash were California-based U.S. Marines
SAN DIEGO — Two service members killed during a border security mission in New Mexico last week were identified as U.S. Marines based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. The 1st Marine Division identified them as Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, California, and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno, California. They were pronounced dead at University Medical Center of El Paso, Texas, the division said in a statement. A third Marine injured alongside them was in critical condition at the medical center, it said. The three were in a vehicle that was a part of a caravan when it crashed Tuesday morning, the division said. The crash in an area just north of El Paso was reported shortly before 9 a.m. on New Mexico's Highway 9 near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station in Santa Teresa, NBC affiliate KTSM of El Paso reported. The Marines were part of the military's Joint Task Force Southern Border, which seeks to increase security along the U.S.-Mexico border. This year U.S. forces there came under consolidated military command after President Donald Trump declared an emergency and tapped the defense budget for the effort. The 1st Marine Division said in a statement that Aguilera and Gamino were combat engineers with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Gamino was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He deployed to Darwin, Australia, as part of a rotational force last year, the division said. Last month, nearly 3,000 active-duty troops were deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Trump's effort to halt migrant and drug traffic. Trump has not commented formally on the Marines' deaths. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, who represents El Paso, said in a statement: "I am saddened by the loss of two U.S. service members who were killed in yesterday's accident in Santa Teresa. I'm praying that the third service member who remains in serious condition recovers, and I'm thinking of the families of all involved." Marine Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, commander of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, said in the 1st Marine Division statement that the loss of the two lance corporals "is deeply felt" in the military branch. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers," he said. "Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time.' The cause of the crash remained under investigation, the division said. This article was originally published on
NBC News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Service members killed in border crash were California-based U.S. Marines
SAN DIEGO —Two service members killed during a border security mission in New Mexico last week were identified as U.S. Marines based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. The U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Division identified the two as Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside; and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno. They were pronounced dead at University Medical Center of El Paso, the division said in a statement. A third Marine injured alongside them was in critical condition at the institution, it said. The three were in a vehicle that was a part of a caravan when it crashed on Tuesday morning, the division said. The crash in an area just north of El Paso was reported shortly before 9 a.m. on New Mexico's Highway 9 near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, NBC affiliate KTSM of El Paso, Texas, reported. The Marines were part of the military's Joint Task Force Southern Border, which seeks to increase security along the U.S.-Mexico border. This year U.S. forces there came under consolidated military command after President Donald Trump declared an emergency and tapped the defense budget for the effort. The 1st Marine Division said in a statement that Aguilera and Gamino were combat engineers with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Gamino was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He deployed to Darwin, Australia, as part of a rotational force in 2024, the division said. In March, nearly 3,000 active-duty troops were deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Trump's effort to halt migrant and drug traffic. The president has not commented formally on the Marines' deaths. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, said in a statement, "I am saddened by the loss of two U.S. service members who were killed in yesterday's accident in Santa Teresa. I'm praying that the third service member who remains in serious condition recovers, and I'm thinking of the families of all involved." U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, commander of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, said in the 1st Marine Division statement that the loss of the two lance corporals "is deeply felt" in the military branch. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers," he said. "Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time.' The cause of the crash remained under investigation, the division said.
CBS News
20-04-2025
- CBS News
2 Marines deployed to U.S. southern border killed in vehicle accident, another hurt
Washington — Two service members deployed to the U.S. southern border are dead and a third is in critical condition after a vehicle accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, the military announced late Tuesday. The troops were with 1st Marine Division, attached to Joint Task Force - Southern Border. The Marines were traveling from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, at the time of the incident, military officials said. The two killed Marines were identified Thursday as 22-year-old Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera of Riverside, California, and 28-year-old Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino of Fresno, California. Aguilera was a combat engineer who enlisted in March 2023, while Gamino was a combat engineer who had enlisted in May 2022. The third Marine injured, who was not identified, remains in critical condition Thursday. All three Marines had been transported to University Medical Hospital, El Paso, Texas, where Aguilera and Gamino were pronounced dead, the 1st Marine Division said in a news release Thursday. The accident occurred during a convoy movement near Santa Teresa. "The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us," said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, the commanding officer for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper, in a statement Thursday. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers. Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time." The region where the accident took place is just over the state line and west of Fort Bliss, a major Army installation in West Texas that's played a critical role in dispatching military deportation flights and served as a touchpoint for thousands of soldiers and pieces of equipment now deployed along the border. The troops are there in support of President Trump's executive order to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. Their deaths are the first stemming from that operation, according to The Washington Post, which says the accident involved a vehicle rollover. A defense official speaking on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details not yet made public told The Associated Press the accident occurred in a civilian vehicle, and said no civilians were harmed. The accident didn't involve any of the scores of Stryker vehicles the Pentagon has sent down to the border to perform patrols, the official said. The accident occurred around 8:50 a.m. MDT Tuesday. The names of the deceased won't be released until 24 hours after their next of kin are notified, the military said.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
2 Marines killed in crash during deployment to the southern border
2 Marines killed in crash during deployment to the southern border Show Caption Hide Caption What we know about military jurisdiction over federal border lands President Trump authorized the U.S. military to take over jurisdiction of federal border lands. Here is what we know now. Two U.S. Marines killed in a crash in New Mexico during a deployment to the southern border have been identified by authorities. Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, California; and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno, California, were both killed in the April 15 crash near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. A third Marine, who was not identified, is in critical condition. 'The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us," said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers. Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time.' The Marines were part of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and were deployed as part of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border operation. Thousands of military personnel have been deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border since President Donald Trump declared an emergency at the border. The three Marines were airlifted to University Medical Hospital in El Paso on April 15. The crash occurred during a convoy movement along the border, according to a news statement from the Joint Taskforce Southern Border operation. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. 'I am saddened by the loss of two U.S. service members who were killed in yesterday's accident in Santa Teresa,' U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat representing El Paso, said. 'I'm praying that the third service member who remains in serious condition recovers, and I'm thinking of the families of all involved.' President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border in mid-January in response to what he called "an invasion" of cartels and immigrants crossing the border, deploying thousands of active-duty troops. The first 1,500 troops were deployed to Fort Bliss in El Paso on Jan. 25. There are currently about 6,600 troops along the southern border with Mexico. The Trump administration is seeking to utilize Fort Bliss as a hub for deportation. Construction of the facility is set to start soon. BORDER DEPLOYMENT: Donald Trump authorizes U.S. military to take control of land on southern border Migrants crossing the southern border are currently at the lowest levels in decades. Jeff Abbott covers the border for The El Paso Times and can be reached at: jdabbott@ @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @ on Bluesky.
