San Diego-Based Warship in Collision; 1 Killed, 4 Injured
A U.S. Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship in the Straight of Malacca northwest of Singapore today, killing one American sailor and injuring four shipmates, a Navy spokesman said.
The names of the dead and injured are being withheld until their relatives could be notified, Lt. Cmdr. Bob Anderson, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet in Honolulu,said.
Several fires broke out aboard the destroyer Kinkaid and the Singapore vessel Kota Petani when they collided at 5:19 this morning local time, Anderson said.
The fires aboard the San Diego-based destroyer were quickly contained, and the crew of the Kincaid and the frigate Rentz helped douse the flames aboard the Kota Petani, Anderson said.
No injuries were reported aboard the merchant vessel, which sustained major damage to its bow, Anderson said.
The cause of the collision was under investigation, Anderson said.
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