Sailor, one of 35 injured in hovercraft collision during training mishap, transported to Portsmouth hospital
A Norfolk-based sailor injured in a hovercraft collision off Florida coast earlier this week was transported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth to continue treatment closer to home, according to the Navy.
The incident happened Wednesday during a training exercise near Jacksonville. One of the involved air-cushioned landing crafts was from the USS Wasp, the other was with the USS New York. Both ships are based in Norfolk.
A third hovercraft responded to the collision and transported all 38 sailors and Marines on the two vessels to the Wasp and New York for evaluation and treatment. A Navy spokeswoman initially said 30 were determined to have been injured, but she updated that number to 35 in an emailed release Saturday. Most had minor injuries and were treated aboard the Wasp and New York.
Five of the injured were transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia, for further treatment. All but one have since been released and returned to duty, the release said.
The sailor who remains hospitalized was transferred Friday to the Portsmouth hospital and was listed in stable condition, the release said. The collision is under investigation.
Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
