They have landed the helicopter and are now transporting the patient. There have been several active military personel standing by. My prayers are with this person for a speedy recovery.

Yesterday again, there was an accident in the evening on the opposite side of the street at the drive way of the Circle K. I sure do hope someone does something about lowering the speed in this curve.

My prayers are with the ones who are injured for sure. But it would help if people would slow down and simple drive more carefully. But there are those who don't get it, and believe they can handle their vehicle no matter what. This is not wise thinking.
Just remember people you are not NASCAR drivers!!!!!!!!!!! And our country roads are not a speedway! There is a reason for the speed limit signs, there for are protection! Slow down and enjoy the ride. What ever your racing too will be there even when you go the speed limit! How sad would it be if you or some one else were to die because of driving to fast!!! Do you want to live with that? I think NOT!!! Please slow down, the life you save may be your own!

Dangerous turn there and the speed limit should be lowered. Prayers for the injured.

Red - you are correct. At times I catch myself in TOO much of a hurry on these roads. I will take your advice and "slow down and enjoy the ride".

First I would like to say my prayers are with those who have have been injured in this accident. Second I would like to say that the speeding on these roads has gotten out of control. My child has recently started school and we walk her too and from and the rate of speed people are driving on these roads that are lined with kids is unacceptable. Slow down it's not worth hurting or killing anyone to reach your destination 5 seconds sooner.

I hope these young marines are ok. Please slow down! I hate that turn and I have found myself going to fast on that road but its not worth my life or my kids! Nobody in this town follows the speed limits here! I walk my daughter to school on mission and I believe the speed limit is 25 during school hours! Ha ha however everyone is going 40 or 50 miles an hour! Just slow down and for you marines there is no point to hurry cuz you will get held up anyway at the gate! People wake up a little earlier and you'll be on time! Be safe

I do pray for those involved in this accident. The traffic coming through this town in the am/pm is horrible. Those that don't live here commuting to base need to pay attention to the speed limits. I see accidents at the intersection all the time. I hope the city will finally do something about it.

That curve there is out of control. I am so sorry for the young marines and their families. My husband was in a head on collision on East Mission- other driver lost control on the curve right by Megan's Bluff and flew into him. THESE ROADS ARE DANGEROUS and not to be taken lightly. Thanks to God, my husband has made full recovery.

While I agree the intersection is a bad one, how many times have I been cut-off/tailgated/honked at/and passed at great speed by Marines? Countless!! They think they can drive through Fallbrook at whatever speeds they want, and I'm tired of it. Our roads are not particularly well laid-out or engineered, so if you add speed to the mix, you're going to get accidents, and plenty of them.

Something should have been done about direct access to the back gate of Pendleton a long time ago, but it wasn't, and now we're their racetrack to work.

I do hope someone pays attention to this problem and finds a solution to better enable access to the base without endangering themselves or the town's people. And Marines: slow down!!

A lack of driving skills has a lot to do with people crashing on the roads .

My prayers go out to them young marines, hope God's by your side and you have a speedy recovery. Let it be a lesson to you, no need to speed, for what? Is that what your life is worth? It's kind of ridiculous, if they been to Irak and back, to loose your life for speeding thru the streets of Fallbrook? Yes, I said streets, not highways or freeways, streets. The city has done nothing about it. How many accidents have we had? Too many. How many lives do we need to loose at the curve in order to put up a signal light? I guess until one of our city officials loose a love one will they get the point accross, otherwise it dosen't matter to them. It"s our tax dollars paying their wages, we elected them, so why can't they do the job for us? If the city is unable to provide us with a stop light, then at least let us know how much it will cost to put one up. We could of done fundraisers, car washes, etc., anything in our power to prevent another life lost to this dangerous curve. Speeding doesn't help at all and I must say that it's not only our military men/women speeding is civilians as well. With all disregards towards other human lives or private property. Enough is enough, Fallbrook wake up and do something about it. If our city officials can't or won't then there's no need to have them in office.

this happens quite often , the most interesting thing to watch are people trying to turn left coming out of circle k during rush hour.

I just thought of an idea, open a new back gate so those who live
Riverside county, Temecula can use it instead of coming through Fallbrook! This would really be a big help. I'm glad so many are
"in one accord" with their comments. This is good. Of course there is one other idea : build apartments for all the Marines with familys or not, so they could live on base.

Sorry to hear about the accident.

The base does not need better access. The drivers need to be more cautious.

But ya know, I've been "missing" Ray (the real one) in the comment section lately. He is unusually quiet. Hope he and his mum are well.

im tired of people blaming these roads!in 2002 my husband was in a head on collision on 76. Husband going west in west lane. Guy going east in west lane hit my man head on .90 mph collision. my guy is still here . IT WAS NOT THE ROAD!!! IT WAS THE OTHER DRIVER!! Stop blaming a tiny curve ! Its the drivers! husband use to work at L&M by Circle K. That curve is baby steps! Not a dangerous curve at all. Learn to drive people!!

Yeap, I live close to that accident scene and I can agree that the marines do have to slow down and respect the locals and their streets. I work all day in Fallbrook and I'm also getting tired of these marines that drive through here with no remorse. They have the strictest driving laws on base, and when they get out of the naval weapon station it's driving balls to the wall especially the motorcycle riders. I hope the hurt recover quickly, but accidents for the most part can be prevented.

Are you all kidding. Quit blaming marines... Everyone speeds through fallbook.. Dont try and say its the marines. And I hate to tell you,, but they live here. They own property and its their town too. As a matter of fact you probably wouldnt have a town if it wasnt for them spending money and buying here. Ungrateful jerks. If you dont like it leave. This is where their base is and if you want freedom to talk ***t. You better support them. They cant leave but you can..................... An accident is and accident and I pray for ANYONE who is ever involved !!!!!

I have worked and lived in this town since 76 and over the years, have asked local planning group, and Bill Horn's office about the traffic circulation in our town and no one wants to CHANGE the way traffic flows in this town. The local Sheriff needs to use radar along with the CHP. Local and out of town drivers just don't respect the speed limits that are posted. If you want a new back gate entrance we need to get the Feds involved. But, as I mentioned NO one wants the road through there property, just look how long Hwy 76 has been in the works. We all must give alittle if we want traffic circulation improved in our town.

To "Get a life"- it appears you missed our collective point since you were the only true dissenting voice so far, so allow me to clarify my view and respond to your incredibly weak argument. Point #1: the reason we blame marines for this accident is because, well, no better way to put this, marines were in the car, and a marine was driving. I hope you see the connection because most of us did. Point #2: Yes, marines live here. But most of the ones that speed through our roads are actually commuter marines, which means they commute...from somewhere else. They don't live here, nor do they contribute to our tax base (most are renters, by the way). They don't even buy gas here. They buy it on base because it's cheaper (I don't blame them). So when you say they "own property and its [sic] their town too," you are mostly incorrect. They marines that actually do live here AND own property are retired and they want to whoop the young marines just as much as the rest of us. Point #3: Fallbrook was basically laid out as a town in 1882, almost 60 years before Camp Pendleton was formed. Your assertion about us not having a town if it weren't for CP and its economic impact on us is absolutely incorrect. And speaking of economic impact, the businesses that would truly suffer if the marines weren't around here would be the sleazy tattoo parlors , the $10 barber shops, and the cheap liquor stores. Most of us would be glad to see those go, believe me on that point. And lastly, your junior high taunt, "If you dont like it leave," tells me you are either young, naive, or both. Regardless, let me explain how it works around here: those of us who have been here many years own our homes, pay the taxes that pay for Fallbrook to be what it is (and that's open to interpretation), shop at the stores that have invested here and created jobs for our local community, eat at the restaurants that support our local economy (cannot tell you the last time I saw a marine at certain restaurants), go to the dry cleaners here, have our cars repaired here, and we even go to the doctor here. Can most of those commuter marines say the same thing? Hardly. And what did you mean when you said, "...and if you want freedom to talk ***t. Your better support them"? I hope you're not trying to draw some connection between my Constitutional right to Free Speech and a marine on a crotch rocket or a speeding automobile. That would simply be too pathetic to debate with and I'm afraid I might laugh a small, little laugh.

Well said, Slow Down. While I appreciate the marines and their sacrifices, I would like to add that our freedom of speech is not being upheld in this nation due to our policing another nation across our waters.

Lets be honest here, the majority of the marines based at Camp Pendleton, are not very vested in the community of Fallbrook. It is not that they dislike us or that they mean to ignore us. You have to remember that we are just a part of the "setting" of their military life. We are not a community to them, we are not their family, we are not anything more than a portal they are passing through on their way to do their final jobs. This is not true of all the marines, but it is true of the majority. They are great people, but we are just a portal in their journey and really have very little impact on their future.

They don't see us as being as vitally important as we see them. They are special males/females, caught between their youth and their emerging adulthood. They are still very much in the selfish mode of youth that keeps them focused on their wants, desires and needs. For the most part, they are not family men yet. They are still in "let's get drunk and party" mode. Do you remember those days and how that felt?

I was stationed on the east coast and lived just outside a base. I remember thinking that all that "community" stuff was a waste of my time. It was nice if I got freebies and stuff, because times were tough, but I didn't really care about the people or the community. It is not that I was cruel or mean, it is just that I was young enough and had not learned to appreciate my surroundings. I was still focused on me and how my surroundings would fit or not fit into my lifestyle.

Looking back, I wish I had been different. It was the callousness of my youth that made me feel that way. I wish I could do it over again, but with the heart/soul I have now. However, in saying that, I would not have the courage to do what they do now (go off to war) if I had the life experience I have now. It was that callousness, that youthful ignorance of life, that allowed me to focus on the job and not be frightened of the outcome.

As I matured, I grew much more compassionate. As I had a family, I finally "got it". I understood why people didn't want us racing through their streets, or piling out of the NCO club drunk and getting into our cars to drive to the shore. I understood that I could not just expect them to get out of my way when I was driving just because they were a slow moving "local". I understood so much more about my impact, my footprint on their community and how important it was for me to conduct myself with not just respect and dignity, but also with compassion and understanding for others.

I don't blame the marines, I blame their age. In spite of the fact that they are soldiers willing to fight for our country, they are still (for the most part) very young boys/girls that have not matured enough to "get it". That will happen in time, but for our foreseeable future, Fallbrook is caught in the cross-hairs of their lack of maturity, lack of sensitivity and their own age related selfishness.

8:05 PM Sunday: There is another accident in the same local. I don't know how many cars or what is involved. But, I certainly heard the slamming of brakes and then the slam/thud.

Well it happened again, but this time it is a older woman that couldn't negotiate the curve and drove into the bushes and had very little injuries if any. As I mentioned before people don't know how to drive around town. We need a stronger and more visible Law enforcement to get people to SLOW down. Maybe if people are hit in the wallet alittle harder, they might get the message.

Okay I'll add my two cents I live on Santa Margarita 1/2 a mile from the crash site. I witnessed the crash. Here's the bottom line about this crash "the driver was at fault" my wife three of my six kids and my self were first in line to make the turn onto Mission. My wife was driving I was sitting shotgun, she was waiting for a break in traffic; very normal so far. Just as my wife was going to slip into an opening I yelled for her to wait... From my angel I could see a cloud of dust being kicked up by a white car in the middle lane. Those of you who know this stretch of Mission know that the middle lane there is for turning and merging only. She hits the breaks narrowly avoids putting us directly in the path of this speeding car (I estimate his speed between 60 to 70 mph) I watch the driver thinking "even if he does make the turn he's going to drift and take out some other car or cars. Rather than attempt to make the turn he misses the turn 100% drives straight over the curb, over some low bushes and hits a brick and concrete pilasters at speed. By now the whole thing is turning surreal. Oh yeah... As I'm watching this unfold, nearly in the path of the car is a young boy running to catch his school bus, who I later learn is named Oscar. I watch Oscars face with that deer in the head-lights look not know rather to go left, right, or s**t. Thankfully he's able to back peddle and the car misses him by 5 feet. I jump out of the car hollering for my wife to call 911 and run towards what looks to be a car on fire (thankfully it was only steam). I am second to the Car with a Master Seargent who is soon taking control and directing Marines and bystanders to perform various tasks. Two of the passengers were able to exit the car, I lost track of the front seat passenger when I saw others tending to him. The rearseat drivers side passenger pushed his way out the rear door took 10 steps or so and collapsed, I told two people coming on scene to tend to him elaavate his legs and cover with a bag and blanket I pulled from the crash vehicle rear seat. The Master Seargent and I tried to free the drivers door in case we HAD to pull him out. We pulled so hard oh the door window frame that we ripped it off (adrenaline is a wonderful thing) we couldn't get the lower part to budge. We tried the rear doors; they would open, but he was way to pinned for us to get him out. The Master Seargent slipped in the seat behind the driver and began talking to the trapped driver, he kept his head supported and brought him back out of pulled him back to conscenceness 3 or more times, took his vitals and wouldn't leave him. Thinking at this point that the car was or could still catch fire I yelled (not very nicely, when the guy took of at a walk) to go get a f-ing fire extinguisher. I looked back at the marine (yes I think all three victims were marines) and saw he was rolling around in pain one female marine was with him so I went to give her a hand. I found out that his name was Nelson and he was having a hard time breathing. I gave him a cursory look over and knew that his chest must really hurt if that's what his primary complaint was, because the open gash on his left ankle would have been enough to send me through the roof. Finally...and only because time slows down in these situations the fire dept arrived. They triaged the victims and called for air medivac and another ambulance. I stayed with Nelson holding the IV bag and his hand until they loaded him in the ambulance. The Master Seargent stayed with the driver until they cut him from the car with the jaws of life.

So yes it was marines, yes he was driving too fast. We need to find out if there is a mindset at the base of punishing marines who are late to work. I am so happy to have these fine young men come through my hometown and I am thankful for them every day. Let's look at the root cause of marines driving through Fallbrook to fast and solve that rather than be to quick to judge a young man who still has questionable judgement at times.

By the way my wife gave Oscar a ride to school, and called Potter Jr. High to tell them to check on Oscar because he was another young man...boy who nearly lost his life by doing just what was asked of him last Friday morning; be to school on time.

I hope all involved are safe and mending.

All else aside, an update would be much appreciated. As a Marine wife and Fallbrook resident, I pray that those involved are ok.

Dan f.....you are a true guardian angel. Thank you for your story. It means a lot to know what really happened.

Dan F..... Bless you and your wife.
I agree with resident " you are a true guardian angel"

Resident & Momz, thanks for the kind words! I'm no angel. I am thankful that in a situation where people are in trouble (no matter who they are) we can all come together and rip off doors if we have to.

As I looked back over my last post I noticed that I said "...these fine young men..." to all the women in the Marines I apologize.

To restate:

"I am so happy to have these fine young men and women come through my hometown and I am thankful for them every day!"

Dan f: Your restatement just shows what great character you have. I am really glad it was you there and not someone who didn't give a rat's patootie.

wow! I just found this site. I was looking for more details about the wreck. My son was driving. I live in Texas. Can any of you who are arguing their points of who pays taxes in your town or who is driving through your town imagine flying from Texas to CA, then driving from San Diego in a rental car just to see if you child is okay? It makes me ill to read some of the comments. How heartless!!