Two Sailors Killed in Fiery Motorcycle Crash on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton

Two active duty sailors were tragically killed in a fiery chain-reaction crash on Thursday morning on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton, the U.S. Navy confirmed Friday.

The pair were riding southbound on the 5 Freeway shortly after 3 a.m. when they and two other motorcyclists crashed into vehicles that had previously collided, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The incident began when the driver of a Jeep Wrangler lost control on the southbound side of the 5 Freeway, veered off the highway, and struck a guard rail near Las Pulgas Road. The Jeep became disabled on the side of the road, as reported by Officer Jake Sanchez of the CHP.

Shortly after, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van crashed into the disabled Jeep and overturned onto its side. This sequence of events led to the four motorcyclists following behind crashing into the van and Jeep. The collision resulted in a fire, authorities confirmed.

Tragically, three of the four motorcyclists involved in the crash lost their lives, according to the CHP. U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer Brian O’Rourke identified two of the deceased as active duty sailors stationed in Southern California.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by authorities. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the names of the victims involved in the fatal incident.