SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND - The remains of seven Marines and a sailor lost when their amphibious vehicle sank near San Clemente Island have been recovered, the Marines said late Friday.

The sunken Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) was also recovered from the sea floor. The sunken vehicle was found August 3rd in 385 feet of water.

Nine service members died in the accident — one was recovered at the time of the sinking while the others went down with the vessel.

The Marines and sailors of Battalion Landing Team 1/4, based at Camp Pendleton, were training with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group near San Clemente Island on July 30. Their assault amphibious vehicle began taking on water on its way back to the amphibious transport dock Somerset, according to the Marine Corps.

There were 16 service members on the vessel went it sank. Five were rescued and returned to the Somerset, two were hospitalized and one was pronounced dead at the scene. A two-day search followed for the eight missing men. On Sunday, the search was halted and they were presumed dead.

On August 3rd, the Navy’s Undersea Rescue Command found the 26-ton vehicle about 1,500 meters off the coast of San Clemente Island. Inside the craft, via cameras on the remote-operated submarine Sibitzky, officials found human remains.

Among the dead are Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona and Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside.

Military experts tell the San Diego Union Tribune the investigation likely could include a float test to determine if there was a structural leak and an examination of the multiple hatches and their seals and whether the vehicle’s bilge pump was functioning properly.

Story Date: August 14, 2020