NAPLES, Italy — The Naples-based sailors killed or injured in an early-morning car crash Saturday have been identified by Navy officials.
Killed were Seaman Chad Creary, 21, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a cryptologic technician assigned to the Naval Security Group Activity; Seaman Damien D. Verrett, 22, of Los Angeles, a dental technician assigned to the Branch Dental Clinic; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Brittany M. Smith, 20, of Benbrook, Texas, a master-at-arms with the base Security Department.
Injured were Seaman Darnicia Q. Clay, 20, of South Bend, Ind., and Petty Officer 3rd Class Amber C. Ward, 24, of Blair, Neb. Both are culinary specialists assigned to the base’s Housing Department.
Clay and Ward were being treated for third-degree burns at Naples’ Cardarelli Hospital. They were scheduled to be moved to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany late Sunday and will eventually be transferred to a special burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
According to a Navy press release, the car was traveling eastbound on the Tangenziale expressway at the time of the accident. The unnamed driver lost control of the Alfa Romeo between the Agnano and Fuorigrotta exits, and the car hit a wall, flipped several times and caught fire.
Two sailors in another vehicle stopped and were able to pull Clay and Ward from the car. One of those sailors, whose name wasn’t available Sunday, received minor cuts during the rescue and was treated at the base hospital.
Italian and Navy authorities are investigating the crash.
