21-Year-Old Marine Killed During Training Accident In California

By
Jordan Riddle
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A 21-year-old Marine has been killed as a result of an accident during a training exercise.

ABC News reports Private first-class Christian Bautista of Cook County, Illinois was riding in a M-1151 Enhanced Armament Carrier vehicle at the U.S. Marines Corps’ Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California when the incident occurred on Sunday morning.

Bautista was pronounced dead at the scene, despite life-saving measures being taken by two fellow Marines.

According to the report, a statement “from the 1st Marine Logistics Group did not provide further details on the training exercise or what caused the fatal accident.” At this time, the incident is still under investigation.

“Our primary concern is for the Marine we’ve lost, his family, friends, and fellow Marines and sailors,” Brigadier General Roberta L. Shea said on Tuesday when the death was mad public. “We have them in our prayers and will exhaust all resources to aid them during this difficult time.”

ABC News adds:

Bautista was a motor vehicle operator serving as a vehicle turret gunner assigned to 1st Transportation Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group.

Bautista enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2018. After graduating from Motor Transportation School at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he was assigned to 1st Transportation Support Battalion at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California in May 2019. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terror Service Medal, according to the press release from the 1st Marine Logistics Group.