S.C. Highway Patrol officials say they continue to investigate a fatal Dec. 27 crash that killed a Parris Island Marine.
Cpl. Cameron P. Branum, 23, was killed after being struck by a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by fellow Marine Cpl. Tyshan Bentley, 23.
Bentley ran off the side of Joe Frazier Road in Beaufort, overcorrected and headed into oncoming traffic, according to the Highway Patrol.
Branum, a native of Newalla, Okla., was trying to avoid being hit and laid his motorcycle down, but the truck ended up hitting him, according to the patrol. He was wearing a helmet.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted the Highway Patrol at the scene, said Bentley was also active-duty military. Officials at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort confirmed Monday Bentley is a logistics clerk assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA-312. He reported to the Air Station about two weeks ago, according to Lance Cpl. R.J. Driver.
Bentley has not been charged with a crime.
Marine Corps officials also said the Provost Marshal's Office, the base's senior law-enforcement officer, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service helped the Highway Patrol in its investigation.
NCIS investigates any non-combat death involving a naval service member where the cause of death cannot be medically attributable to disease or natural causes.
Highway Patrol and Marine Corps officials declined to comment further, including what may have caused Bentley to lose control of the truck and hit Branum, citing an ongoing investigation.