Submitted by Aiken Jacobsen on
A U.S. Marine base in California has seen 28 of its service members killed since 2007 in off-duty automobile accidents while stationed there. Half of those accidents involved extreme speeds and one-third of them involved alcohol.
The majority of the crashes took place on Highway 62, a road that leads from the base to nearby towns where service members can find dining, entertainment and recreational activities. Many of these young people go out to enjoy an evening and fail to make adequate arrangements for a designated driver.
Apparently, this is not an unusual phenomenon. According to a study conducted by the Center for Naval Analysis, Marines are 60 percent more likely to die in an automobile accident when they have been back from deployment for a period of three to six months.
In an interview regarding the issue, a sheriff’s deputy who has investigated several of these crashes explained that these young soldiers have faced near-death situations while overseas, and just don’t believe that something bad will happen to them while driving on local roads.
The base is taking steps to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities. One such step is that Marines stationed at the base who own a motorcycle or who are under 26 years old must take defensive driver training. However, while Marine bases across the country have reduced the rate of these tragic deaths since 2007, the rate of accidents in California has remained static. Those living around this area should be aware of these alarming statistics, and if you or someone you love is a victim in an auto accident, understand that an attorney may help you understand your rights.
Source: The Sacramento Bee, "Report: California Marines dying in car crashes," March 24, 2014
