Military Helicopter Crashes In Southern California; 4 Reportedly Dead

GLAMIS, CA — Four people reportedly died Wednesday afternoon when a military helicopter crashed in Imperial County.

An MV-22B Osprey belonging to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday near Glamis, California, a spokesman for the wing said in a news release. Glamis is about 120 miles east of San Diego.

Five Marines were on board. Their statuses weren't immediately released.

The Naval Air Facility El Centro said the crash happened near Coachella Canal Road and Highway 78.

"Contrary to initial reports, there was no nuclear material on board the aircraft," the facility said.

A spokesman for the Imperial County Sheriff's Office told Patch it responded to the crash along with firefighters from the county.

Further details weren't immediately released.

A federal source who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Los Angeles Times five people were aboard the craft, which they identified as a helicopter. Four people died, according to the report.

The helicopter was based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton with Marine Aircraft Group 39.