Marine dies, 22 hurt in Ala. bus crash

updated 7:47 p.m. ET March 10, 2008

FORT RUCKER, Ala. - A Marine who was among 23 people injured when a bus overturned at an Army base died Monday, shortly after a reckless driving charge was filed against the civilian driver.

Additional counts were possible against the driver, according to a military statement that said Army authorities filed the reckless driving charges.

The bus overturned Sunday at Fort Rucker, an Army aviation training center in southeast Alabama. The Marines were leaving the training area after a weekend exercise, Fort Rucker said in a statement.

The vehicle landed on its right side, with military gear and debris littering the ground.

"It went into a curve a little fast, the driver lost control and it flipped a couple of times," state trooper Sgt. Scott Brasher told The Dothan Eagle.

The driver's name and that of the Marine who died have not been released.

A message left at the troopers' state headquarters by The Associated Press was not immediately returned Monday.

The man who died was among 23 Marines injured in the crash. Four remained hospitalized Monday afternoon, with one in critical condition.

On board were members of E Company, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, 4th Marine Division with reservists based in Tallahassee, Fla., and the Birmingham suburb of Bessemer.

All the injured were from the First and Headquarters platoons based in Bessemer, the military said.

Lt. Col. Fritz Pfeiffer, a unit spokesman, said the bus was a charter operated by Adventure Bus Charter of the Birmingham area.

Glenda Cummings, an owner of the company, said she did not believe the driver was hurt in the accident but otherwise declined to comment.

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