December 8, 2021
By:
A 20-year-old U.S. Marine from Smithville was struck and killed Monday, December 6 while he assisted a driver in a disabled vehicle on Interstate 5 near where he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.
Lance Cpl. Alberto Lucio was a 2019 graduate of DeKalb County High School.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Lucio, who served in the Marines as a military policeman, stopped after a Ford Edge crashed in the southbound lanes near Las Pulgas Road about 3:20 a.m. Monday.
The vehicle was in the traffic lanes without its lights on, according to the California Highway Patrol and San Diego County medical examiner’s office.
As Lucio assisted the driver and a passenger, a box truck crashed into him and the disabled SUV, the CHP said.
Lucio died at the scene.
Lucio was a member of the Security and Emergency Services Battalion at Camp Pendleton. His military awards included the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. In a statement, battalion commanding officer Col. John Black said Lucio “performed a noble and selfless act” when he stopped to provide “critical aid to a person in need.”
“Lance Cpl. Lucio gave his life in the service of others. His actions epitomized servant leadership and personified the very best in our emergency services personnel,” Black said. “Please honor Lance Cpl. Lucio’s memory through your actions, words and deeds.”
The SUV driver, a 36-year-old man, and his passenger, a 31-year-old woman, suffered major injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
CHP Sgt. Nicole Pacheco said the SUV driver remained hospitalized Tuesday and is expected to be booked into jail when he is released from the hospital, but she did not say what charges he could face. She said the charges will be announced when he is arraigned.