The Marine Corps fired a colonel and ended his role at the helm of a unit after an investigation into a training accident that killed multiple troops.
Col. Christopher Bronzi was relieved of his command Tuesday after authorities commenced an inquiry into a July 30, 2020, incident off San Clemente Island in California, where nine service members died in an amphibious assault vehicle accident, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps told the Washington Examiner.
The vehicle, which was carrying 16 passengers, was overtaken by water, and the accident was dubbed the worst of its kind in Marines Corps history.
Authorities, after eight months of investigation, said they lost “trust and confidence in [Bronzi’s] ability to command.”
EIGHT MISSING SERVICE MEMBERS PRESUMED DEAD AS SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS OF TRAINING ACCIDENT CALLED OFF
Lance Cpl. Guillermo Perez, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene, while eight others were recovered from the ocean floor. The military branch initially had concluded its hunt for seven missing Marines and one missing sailor after over 40 hours of searching.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. I ask that you keep our Marines, Sailors, and their families in your prayers as we continue our search,” Bronzi said Aug. 1, 2020.
The commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is described as a “Marine Air-Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel,” was replaced by Col. Fridrik Fridriksson.
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“The investigation into the cause of the assault amphibious vehicle (AAV) mishap on July 30, 2020, off the coast of Southern California is complete,” the military branch wrote. “We will provide the results of the investigation to the families of our fallen Marines and Sailor before releasing details to the public. This takes time, and we ask you to respect the privacy of these families at this difficult time and remain patient while they are presented with the information.”
