Marines Killed in Border Mission Vehicle Crash Identified as Pendleton-Based Combat Engineers

The Marine Corps has named the two service members from Camp Pendleton who died in a car accident on Tuesday while they were on duty at the southern U.S. border.  

Five Marine combat engineers from California were killed when their truck crashed during a convoy near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. They were 22 years old and 28 years old. A third Marine, also from the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, is still in serious condition at a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where all three of them were taken after the incident.  

The Marine Corps hasn't said what that Marine's name is yet. The Marines were moving in the area as part of a convoy, according to a news statement from the unit.  The exact location and reason for the convoy have not been made public.  Reports say that the Marines were driving a civilian rental car, which is a regular way for active-duty troops on border missions to get around.  

Defense sources in the US told The Washington Post that the crash was caused by a rollover. Aguilera joined the army in March 2023 and had just been raised to lance corporal.  Before going to Darwin, Australia with the Marine Rotational Force in 2024, Gamino joined the Marine Corps in 2022. The leader of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper, Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, sent his condolences: "The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us."  Barrion continued, "Our first goal is to make sure that their families and fellow Marines get all the help they need during this tough time."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also shared his sadness on social media, calling the two Marines "heroes of our nation."

The Marines were part of 500 troops from the 1st Marine Division who were sent to strengthen the border barrier near San Diego as part of a larger mission to protect the border.  The Army units that are part use tactical vehicles, while the Marines usually use regular vehicles.

The crash remains under investigation.