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Navy to oust top three sailors from USS Fitzgerald after deadly collision

Senior officer on damaged ship to be relieved
Posted at 3:47 PM, Aug 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-17 18:55:32-04

(KGTV) - The Navy plans to remove the top three officers from the USS Fitzgerald after a deadly collision off the coast of Japan that killed seven sailors, including two from San Diego.

The Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine merchant ship ACX Crystal in June. 

The seven sailors who died were trapped in a flooded berthing compartment. Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Douglass of San Diego, and Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan of Chula Vista were among the victims.

RELATED: San Diego sailors among seven dead in collision

Three others on the ship, including commanding officer Cmdr. Bryce Benson, suffered minor injuries.

Admiral William Moran said the Navy will remove the commanding officer, executive officer and the command master chief from duty aboard the Fitzgerald, according to the Associated Press.  Other sailors will also face punishment, said Moran. 

The Navy has not completed its investigation into why the ships crashed.