Three of the four victims killed in a fiery single-car crash early Saturday morning on the 5 Freeway in Downey have been identified as United States Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton.
According to a release from the California Highway Patrol, the single-vehicle crash involving a 2018 Dodge Charger happened around 2:30 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 Freeway south of Lakewood Boulevard.
CHP confirmed that the vehicle was on fire when they arrived and that all four occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
"Preliminary information indicates that the driver lost control of the vehicle at a high rate of speed causing the vehicle to collide with a guardrail and the bridge abutment of the Lemoran Avenue pedestrian overcrossing," CHP said in a statement. "The force of the impact caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder."
Video shows the wreckage of a single-car crash on June 24, 2023, that claimed the life of four people, including three U.S. Marines.
The rear end of the car was found approximately 100 feet south of the front end, authorities said.
"The driver and front passenger remained inside the front portion of the vehicle which became fully engulfed in flames against the sound barrier wall," CHP said.
On Monday, military officials confirmed that three of the victims were active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. Records from the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner identified the victims as 26-year-old Daniel Nichols, 27-year-old Joshua Leandra Moore, Jr. and 21-year-old Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez.
"Sadly, we can now confirm that four U.S. Marines died in an off-duty single-vehicle accident on June 24, in Downey, California. The previously unidentified occupant was identified by the Los Angeles examiner-coroner's office as a U.S. Marine on June 27," said, 1st Lt. Sean Waterman.
That victim was identified as 24-year-old Jose Martinez.
Sgt. Jose Carlos Martinez, 24, from Phoenix, AZ. was an active-duty Marine who unexpectedly passed away in an accident in Downey, California on June 24th.
Jose was born on January 12th, 1999 to parents Amanda Carrillo and Jose Martinez in Indio, CA. After graduating from Cibola High School in Yuma, AZ., he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He then served a total of 7 years and had recently been promoted to Sargent. He had many accomplishments, one of which was him receiving his Associates while working on his Bachelors degree. "Guero", as many knew him by, was a very outgoing, energetic and fun person. He loved being outdoors and working out. Anytime he was around, there was never a dull moment. He always had something to say or a joke to crack. His Sundays always consisted of church and brunch with friends/family after.
He is survived by his mother Amanda, father Jose, sisters Anixa, Destiny and America as well as brothers Adrian and Zaydel. And his fur baby-Hércules.
According to a release from the California Highway Patrol, the single-vehicle crash involving a 2018 Dodge Charger happened around 2:30 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 Freeway south of Lakewood Boulevard.
CHP confirmed that the vehicle was on fire when they arrived and that all four occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
"Preliminary information indicates that the driver lost control of the vehicle at a high rate of speed causing the vehicle to collide with a guardrail and the bridge abutment of the Lemoran Avenue pedestrian overcrossing," CHP said in a statement. "The force of the impact caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder."
Video shows the wreckage of a single-car crash on June 24, 2023, that claimed the life of four people, including three U.S. Marines.
The rear end of the car was found approximately 100 feet south of the front end, authorities said.
"The driver and front passenger remained inside the front portion of the vehicle which became fully engulfed in flames against the sound barrier wall," CHP said.
On Monday, military officials confirmed that three of the victims were active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. Records from the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner identified the victims as 26-year-old Daniel Nichols, 27-year-old Joshua Leandra Moore, Jr. and 21-year-old Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez.
"Sadly, we can now confirm that four U.S. Marines died in an off-duty single-vehicle accident on June 24, in Downey, California. The previously unidentified occupant was identified by the Los Angeles examiner-coroner's office as a U.S. Marine on June 27," said, 1st Lt. Sean Waterman.
That victim was identified as 24-year-old Jose Martinez.
Sgt. Jose Carlos Martinez, 24, from Phoenix, AZ. was an active-duty Marine who unexpectedly passed away in an accident in Downey, California on June 24th.
Jose was born on January 12th, 1999 to parents Amanda Carrillo and Jose Martinez in Indio, CA. After graduating from Cibola High School in Yuma, AZ., he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He then served a total of 7 years and had recently been promoted to Sargent. He had many accomplishments, one of which was him receiving his Associates while working on his Bachelors degree. "Guero", as many knew him by, was a very outgoing, energetic and fun person. He loved being outdoors and working out. Anytime he was around, there was never a dull moment. He always had something to say or a joke to crack. His Sundays always consisted of church and brunch with friends/family after.
He is survived by his mother Amanda, father Jose, sisters Anixa, Destiny and America as well as brothers Adrian and Zaydel. And his fur baby-Hércules.
Three of the four victims killed in a fiery single-car crash early Saturday morning on the 5 Freeway in Downey have been identified as United States Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton.
According to a release from the California Highway Patrol, the single-vehicle crash involving a 2018 Dodge Charger happened around 2:30 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 Freeway south of Lakewood Boulevard.
CHP confirmed that the vehicle was on fire when they arrived and that all four occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
"Preliminary information indicates that the driver lost control of the vehicle at a high rate of speed causing the vehicle to collide with a guardrail and the bridge abutment of the Lemoran Avenue pedestrian overcrossing," CHP said in a statement. "The force of the impact caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder."
Video shows the wreckage of a single-car crash on June 24, 2023, that claimed the life of four people, including three U.S. Marines.
The rear end of the car was found approximately 100 feet south of the front end, authorities said.
"The driver and front passenger remained inside the front portion of the vehicle which became fully engulfed in flames against the sound barrier wall," CHP said.
On Monday, military officials confirmed that three of the victims were active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. Records from the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner identified the victims as 26-year-old Daniel Nichols, 27-year-old Joshua Leandra Moore, Jr. and 21-year-old Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez.
"Sadly, we can now confirm that four U.S. Marines died in an off-duty single-vehicle accident on June 24, in Downey, California. The previously unidentified occupant was identified by the Los Angeles examiner-coroner's office as a U.S. Marine on June 27," said, 1st Lt. Sean Waterman.
That victim was identified as 24-year-old Jose Martinez.
Sgt. Jose Carlos Martinez, 24, from Phoenix, AZ. was an active-duty Marine who unexpectedly passed away in an accident in Downey, California on June 24th.
Jose was born on January 12th, 1999 to parents Amanda Carrillo and Jose Martinez in Indio, CA. After graduating from Cibola High School in Yuma, AZ., he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He then served a total of 7 years and had recently been promoted to Sargent. He had many accomplishments, one of which was him receiving his Associates while working on his Bachelors degree. "Guero", as many knew him by, was a very outgoing, energetic and fun person. He loved being outdoors and working out. Anytime he was around, there was never a dull moment. He always had something to say or a joke to crack. His Sundays always consisted of church and brunch with friends/family after.
He is survived by his mother Amanda, father Jose, sisters Anixa, Destiny and America as well as brothers Adrian and Zaydel. And his fur baby-Hércules.
According to a release from the California Highway Patrol, the single-vehicle crash involving a 2018 Dodge Charger happened around 2:30 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 Freeway south of Lakewood Boulevard.
CHP confirmed that the vehicle was on fire when they arrived and that all four occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
"Preliminary information indicates that the driver lost control of the vehicle at a high rate of speed causing the vehicle to collide with a guardrail and the bridge abutment of the Lemoran Avenue pedestrian overcrossing," CHP said in a statement. "The force of the impact caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder."
Video shows the wreckage of a single-car crash on June 24, 2023, that claimed the life of four people, including three U.S. Marines.
The rear end of the car was found approximately 100 feet south of the front end, authorities said.
"The driver and front passenger remained inside the front portion of the vehicle which became fully engulfed in flames against the sound barrier wall," CHP said.
On Monday, military officials confirmed that three of the victims were active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. Records from the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner identified the victims as 26-year-old Daniel Nichols, 27-year-old Joshua Leandra Moore, Jr. and 21-year-old Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez.
"Sadly, we can now confirm that four U.S. Marines died in an off-duty single-vehicle accident on June 24, in Downey, California. The previously unidentified occupant was identified by the Los Angeles examiner-coroner's office as a U.S. Marine on June 27," said, 1st Lt. Sean Waterman.
That victim was identified as 24-year-old Jose Martinez.
Sgt. Jose Carlos Martinez, 24, from Phoenix, AZ. was an active-duty Marine who unexpectedly passed away in an accident in Downey, California on June 24th.
Jose was born on January 12th, 1999 to parents Amanda Carrillo and Jose Martinez in Indio, CA. After graduating from Cibola High School in Yuma, AZ., he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He then served a total of 7 years and had recently been promoted to Sargent. He had many accomplishments, one of which was him receiving his Associates while working on his Bachelors degree. "Guero", as many knew him by, was a very outgoing, energetic and fun person. He loved being outdoors and working out. Anytime he was around, there was never a dull moment. He always had something to say or a joke to crack. His Sundays always consisted of church and brunch with friends/family after.
He is survived by his mother Amanda, father Jose, sisters Anixa, Destiny and America as well as brothers Adrian and Zaydel. And his fur baby-Hércules.
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