The State Highway Patrol said that the driver of the tactical vehicle had been charged with one count of exceeding a safe speed and two misdemeanor counts of death by motor vehicle.
Two U.S. Marines were killed and 17 others were injured on Wednesday when their seven-ton military vehicle rolled over while going too fast around a turn near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the authorities said.
The driver of the tactical vehicle was trying to make a right turn onto U.S. Highway 17 from North Carolina Highway 210 in Onslow County, when it rolled over into the median just after 1 p.m., according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Seventeen Marines who were in the back of the vehicle were ejected, the Highway Patrol said. Another military vehicle that was behind the tactical vehicle was unable to stop and struck one of the ejected Marines, the Highway Patrol said.
Two Marines were pronounced dead at the scene, and two who were critically injured were taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. The 15 other Marines who were injured were taken to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, where they were listed as in stable condition, the Second Marine Logistics Group said in a statement.
The Highway Patrol said that the “proximate cause” of the rollover was “exceeding a safe speed for the turn.”
The agency said that the driver of the tactical vehicle, Louis Barrera, 19, of Springfield, Tenn., had been charged with one count of exceeding a safe speed and two misdemeanor counts of death by motor vehicle.
The Marines involved were active duty members of the Second Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, which is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
The Second Marine Logistics Group said that it would continue to support the authorities as they investigated the rollover.
It said the names of the two Marines who died were being withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin had been notified. The names of the injured were being withheld in accordance with privacy regulations, the unit said.
“Our unit is grateful to all first responders that provided aid to our service members,” the statement said.
The vehicle that rolled over was a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, commonly referred to as a “seven-ton,” which is used mostly for troop and equipment transportation, the Second Marine Logistics Group said.
Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina said he was sending “our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the U.S. Marines who lost their lives in a tragic accident today in Onslow County.”
“We are so proud of our military heroes at Camp Lejeune and across North Carolina,” Mr. Cooper said on Twitter. “Our prayers go out to them.”
