4 Marines killed in Camp Pendleton accident

USA TODAY

Four Marines were killed Wednesday in what the military described as a range accident at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Marine Corps said the accident took place during a range maintenance operation around 11 a.m. on the base along the Pacific Coast north of San Diego.

Lt. Ryan Finnegan, a base spokesman, said the accident came during regularly scheduled maintenance of the Zulu impact area, where artillery, mortar and aerial bombs strike during training exercises. Area Zulu is near the center of the sprawling, 125,000-acre base.

Camp spokesman Cpl. Michael Iams said there were no other injuries. NBC News reported that the accident involved the detonation of unexploded ordnance.

The names of the dead and the units they were assigned to were not immediately announced pending notification of families.

"We offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the families of the Marines lost today in this tragic accident," said Brig. Gen. John Bullard, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. "Our first priority is to provide the families with the support they need during this difficult time.''

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook, Jim Michaels in Washington; Gary Strauss in McLean, Va.