Marine sergeant killed in motorcycle crash - Marine Corps News, news from Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Marine sergeant killed in motorcycle crash

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A Marine sergeant was killed after a car turned in front of his motorcycle Friday morning on a San Diego road, authorities said.

Sgt. Michael Martins, 23, from Cape Coral, Fla., was riding his Yamaha motorcycle on Miramar Road, east of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, about 9:40 a.m. when a Lexus sedan made a left turn in front of him, according to San Diego police. Martins braked but struck the rear passenger door. He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead, according to the San Diego County medical examiner’s office.

Martins was an intelligence specialist assigned to Miramar’s Marine Aircraft Group 11. His military decorations include a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Navy Unit Commendation, according to 3rd MAW officials.

His wife, Allison Martins, described him as “the love of my life” in an interview with the Fort Myers, Fla., News-Press. Her husband had deployed to Iraq twice and had applied to become an officer.

“He was a really good Marine,” she told the newspaper. “He inspired everyone around him.”