Sailor loses both legs after car crash - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Sailor loses both legs after car crash

SAN DIEGO — An 18-year-old sailor remained hospitalized with severe injuries after the car he was driving crashed into a guardrail in San Diego on Monday, local authorities said.

Sonar Technician (Surface) 3rd Class Douglas M. Hill lost one leg, which was severed below the knee in the crash, and had to have his other leg amputated after he was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego. STG Seaman Joshua Songer, 19, a passenger, was treated and released, said Lt. j.g. Mika Shuey, a spokeswoman with Training Support Center-San Diego.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Hill was driving his red 1998 Ford Mustang south on Interstate 5 about 2 p.m. when his car crossed three lanes of traffic to reach an on-ramp to Highway 94 in downtown San Diego. The car crashed into a metal guardrail and flipped over, ejecting both men, said CHP Officer Ken Jackman.

CHP investigators suspect Hill was speeding when he changed lanes. Witnesses told police he was racing other cars at the time, Jackman said.

“We are looking at different aspects of the investigation,” he said. “We are not classifying it as a speeding type of accident as of yet.”

Investigators had not yet spoken with Hill and are still questioning witnesses, he said. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is assisting the highway patrol in the investigation, Jackman added.

“The incident is under investigation by the CHP, but they have asked for support from NCIS,” Shuey said.

Hill and Songer were in San Diego attending a two-month sonar technician course.