Tragic Australian Aircraft Crash Claims Lives of U.S. Marines, Including Park County, Colorado Resident

In a devastating incident, three U.S. Marines lost their lives in a tiltrotor aircraft crash during a training exercise in Australia. The Marine Corps confirmed this tragic news on Tuesday, revealing that the deceased Marines hailed from Illinois, Virginia, and Colorado, respectively. Additionally, another Marine is currently in critical condition.

The ill-fated Marine V-22B Osprey, carrying 23 Marines, crashed on Sunday amidst the tropical forests of Melville Island, while participating in Exercise Predators Run. This joint drill involves the armed forces of Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and East Timor.

The fallen Marines have been identified as Captain Eleanor V. Beau, 29, originally from Belleville, Illinois, Corporal Spencer R. Collart, 21, from Arlington, Virginia, and Major Tobin J. Lewis, 37, from Jefferson, Colorado. All three were stationed in Darwin.

As the Marine Rotation Force-Darwin's commanding officer, Colonel Brendan Sullivan, expressed, the Marines are now focused on recovering the wreckage and determining the cause of this tragic accident.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of three respected and beloved members of the MRF-D family,” Sullivan said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and with all involved,” Sullivan added.