YORKTOWN, Va. — Five members of the U.S. Coast Guard were hurt in a training exercise in Yorktown on Friday, Coast Guard officials confirmed.
The accident happened at Training Center (TRACEN) Yorktown when a small boat exploded. A Coast Guard spokesperson said boatswain mate students were in the process of cleaning the bilge of a small boat when oil/fuel ignited, leading to the explosion.
Four students suffered minor injuries while a fifth was seriously hurt and airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The spokesperson said that student is awake and in stable condition.
The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation by the Coast Guard.
