Hoodline San Diego reports that a tragic crash on the night of July 4 in Oceanside ended in the death of a 12-year-old boy and a U.S. Marine facing charges of DUI and vehicular manslaughter.
According to a statement issued by the Oceanside Police Department, the crash happened at approximately 11:00 p.m. when officers on patrol attempted to pull over a white Volkswagen GTI with no lights near the intersection of Meyers Street and Mission Avenue.
The driver refused to pull over and attempted to speed away to elude the officers. A few moments later, the driver broadsided a Nissan Altima traveling eastbound on Surfrider Way.
The officers arrived at the crash scene to find that a passenger, the 12-year-old boy, died at the scene. The 27-year-old driver of the Nissan and a younger male child suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Two passengers in the Volkswagen were also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The mother of the boy who was killed was riding in a vehicle ahead of the Nissan at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Volkswagen has been identified as 20 -year-old Edward Minot Jr., of North Carolina, a Marine with the 1st Maintenance Division stationed at Camp Pendleton. He is now facing serious criminal charges in addition to his behavior as a Marine being called into question.
“1st Marine Logistics Group commits itself to high standards for personal conduct, both on and off duty, and will continue to cooperate with the Oceanside Police Department while the incident is being investigated,” Captain Charles Palmer with the 1st Marine Logistics Group said in a statement.
The Oceanside Police Department is asking anyone with any information about the incident to contact Traffic Collision Investigator David Paul at (760) 435-4431.
