Sailor Killed In Motorcycle Accident Near San Diego

Chrissie Cole

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A sailor, 27, was hit by a car and killed Monday after losing control of his motorcycle on a road just north of San Diego, local authorities report.

Construction Mechanic 2nd Class (SCW) Bertillus Mark, assigned to Beach Master Unit 1, died in the accident east of Escondido, Calif., about 5:50 p.m., according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Mark lost control of the motorcycle and crossed the double yellow line and collided with a car. Rescue responding to the scene were unable to revive him. The driver of the car was uninjured.

Mark, enlisted in the Navy in 2002 and joined BMU-1 in December 2007. He previously served with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 in Port Hueneme, Calif.; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 3 in Coronado; and dock landing ship Mount Vernon in San Diego.

His military awards include the Iraq Campaign Medal with FMF device and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

As of 2008 there are over 1.1 million licensed motorcycle operators in the state of California. Statistics show motorcycle fatalities continue to surge with 564 total killed in California last year, compared to 363 in 2004.