BE TRANSPORTED TO STATE HOUSING
ELSEWHERE IN THE U.S.
>>> NEW AT 5:00, HUMAN AND
MECHANICAL FAILURES LED TO THE
DEATH OF EIGHT MARINES AND ONE
SAILOR OFF THE COAST OF SAN
CLEMENTE ISLAND LAST SUMMER,
THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE MARINE
CORPS COMMAND INVESTIGATION.
THIS WAS THE DEADLIEST
AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLE
ACCIDENT IN MARINE CORPS
HISTORY.
AND NOW EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE
FAMILIES OF THE DEAD KNOW
FAMILIES OF THE DEAD KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
ALLISON ASH IS IN OCEANSIDE, I
CAN’T IMAGINE HOW PAINFUL ALL OF
THIS IS.
SHE’S GOT MORE ON THE FAMILIES.
SKPLR I
>> Reporter: I SPOKE WITH THE
>> Reporter: I SPOKE WITH THE
FATHER OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
RYAN BALLOTIERA.
HE DID NOT WANT TO GO ON CAMERA,
BUT HE TOLD ME THE HANDLING OF
WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE ON THE
WATER WAS, HIS WORD, DISGUSTING.
IT WAS JANUARY LAST YEAR DURING
A TRAINING EXERCISE WHEN ONE OF
THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLES
HAD MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
FIRST ON THE BEACH AT SAN
FIRST ON THE BEACH AT SAN
CLEMENTE ISLAND AND LATER IN THE
WATER.
IT ENDED WITH EIGHT MARINES AND
ANNIE DELAGAN REPRESENTS SOME OF
THEIR FAMILIES.
>> IT’S HORRIBLE.
THEY’RE HEARING DETAILS THEY’VE
NEVER HEARD BEFORE, LIKE THEIR
BOYS WERE SITTING IN A DARK
COFFIN AS IT WAS SLOWLY SINKING.
>> Reporter: THE JUST-RELEASED
>> Reporter: THE JUST-RELEASED
REPORT SAID AS THE ADD WAS
RETURNING TO THE "USS SOMERSET"
WATER BEGAN SEEPING IN.
THE RADIO DIDN’T WORK AND THE
BILGE PUMPS DIDN’T WORK QUICKLY
ENOUGH.
>> THEY’RE HEARING FOR THE FIRST
TIME THAT THERE WAS 45 MINUTES
FROM THE FIRST CALL TO EVACUATE,
45 MINUTES UNTIL THAT TRACK
SANK.
>> Reporter: THERE WERE NO
SAFETY BOATS NEARBY.
AND WHEN ANOTHER AAV MOVED IN TO
HELP, IT BROADSIDED THE DISABLED
VESSEL AND A WAVE SWAMPED IT, AS
VESSEL AND A WAVE SWAMPED IT, AS
BELLA DONNA SAID, THE MEN
ONBOARD TRIED TO ESCAPE OUT THIS
NARROW CARGO HATCH.
>> THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE SOME
WAY FOR THEM TO POP SOMETHING
OPEN, A DOOR OPEN, SO THEY COULD
ALL SWIM TO SAFETY.
>> Reporter: THE MILITARY
INVESTIGATION FOUND THE AAV
WASN’T PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND
THERE WAS POOR SAFETY TRAINING.
BELLA DONNA SAID NOBODY ABOARD
WAS TO BLAME.
WAS TO BLAME.
SHE BLAMES THE MANUFACTURER.
>> THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT
WAITING TO HAPPEN, THIS WAS AN
ACCIDENT THAT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.
>> Reporter: TWO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMAND STAFF HAVE BEEN FIRED
COMMAND STAFF HAVE BEEN FIRED
BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT AND THE
FAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR LOVED
ONES ARE NOW CONSIDERING A CIVIL
SUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY THAT
BUILT THESE LAND AND SEA
VEHICLES.
RIGHT NOW, BELLA DONNA SAYS
SHE’S HELPING THE FAMILIES COPE
WITH WHAT THEY’VE JUST LEARNED
FROM THAT NEW REPORT.
AFTER THAT, SHE SAYS, THEIR