2 US soldiers killed, 3 hurt in training crash

Two soldiers were killed in a crash during aviation training on San Clemente Island, Calif., the U.S. Army said in a statement on Saturday.

The soldiers who died from injuries suffered in last Thursday’s crash were identified as Staff Sgt. Vincent Marketta, 33, of Brick, N.J., and Sgt. Tyler Shelton, 22, of San Bernardino, Calif.

Both soldiers were assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment headquartered at Fort Campbell, Ken., the Army said, adding that they will receive the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously.

Three other soldiers were injured in the crash, officials said.

The Associated Press identified the aircraft as a Black Hawk helicopter. 

Earlier this month, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force said that seven Marines and one sailor who went missing following a training accident off the coast of San Clemente, Calif., were presumed dead.

That incident occurred when an amphibious assault vehicle carrying 15 Marines and one sailor began to take on water and sink. One of the rescued Marines died and two others were critically injured, officials said at the time.