SAN DIEGO (CNS/KGTV) - The U.S. Marine Corps on Wednesday confirmed that all four people killed in a single-vehicle crash on I-5 in the Downey area were Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton.
All four were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
Three of the victims -- Daniel Nichols, 26, Joshua Moore Jr., 27, and Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez, 21 -- were Marines based at Camp Pendleton, Los Angeles TV station KCAL reported, citing information from base officials.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed that the fourth person in the vehicle was a Marine on Tuesday, according to the Marine Corps' statement. The name of the fourth victim was withheld, pending notification of relatives.
"These U.S. Marines will truly be missed. Our thoughts are with the friends and families who are grieving this loss," The Marine Corps says.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, two of the deceased Marines were assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The third Marine was assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, according to First Lt. Sean Waterman at Camp Pendleton, the Daily News reported.
The Marine Corps confirmed to ABC 10News on Wednesday that the fourth Marine was also assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
Authorities believe that the crash occurred after the driver of a Dodge Challenger lost control of their vehicle for an unknown reason and hit a guardrail on the side of the freeway before slamming into the wall beneath the Lemonran Avenue pedestrian bridge, according to KCAL.
The force of the collision ``caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder," said a statement from California Highway Patrol.
KCAL reported all four were ejected during the crash.
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