Tustin : Marine Readmitted to Hospital After Crash

A Tustin-based Marine, who at first was believed only slightly hurt in a helicopter crash near Yuma, has been readmitted to the hospital there and may have internal injuries, a Marine spokesman at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station said Friday.

The injured Marine, Lance Cpl. Jason W. Chase of Happy Camp, Calif., was among four persons aboard a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter that crashed in the California desert near Yuma on Thursday. None of the four, including Chase, was initially believed to have suffered serious injury, Marine officials said.

But after being treated and dismissed at Yuma Regional Medical Center Thursday afternoon, Chase was brought back to the hospital that night and admitted with possible internal injuries, said Master Gunnery Sgt. Ken Long at the Yuma air station.

Long said that Capt. Anthony Stobiecki remained at the Yuma medical center Friday for treatment of cuts, bruises and a broken leg. The other two Marines on board the helicopter did not require hospitalization.

Long said a crash investigation team from the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station was at the crash site all day Friday. He said the six-member investigation team may be at the site for another day or two before any of the wreckage of the crashed helicopter are removed.

Marine officials said the results of the accident investigation could take “between six weeks and 18 months.”

The crash of the CH-53D helicopter was the latest in a series of major accidents involving some models of the aircraft. Congress last year launched an investigation into the helicopters because of legislative concern about the number of crashes.