3 Marines critically injured in Alabama Army base bus wreck; civilian driver charged

A charter bus carrying members of a Marine Reserve anti-terrorism group overturned at an Army base, injuring 23 people. Three Marines were in critical condition Monday.

The civilian bus driver was charged with reckless driving and may face additional charges, the Army said.

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 has not been released.

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

The four most seriously injured Marines were airlifted by an Army medical helicopter. The Army said they were initially listed in critical condition, but one Marine was doing better Monday.

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.

The military said all the injured were from the First and Headquarters platoons based in Bessemer.

Lt. Col Fritz Pfeiffer, a unit spokesman, said the bus was a charter operated by Adventure Bus Charter, which is located in Sumiton, near Birmingham.

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