Marine nearly killed by hit-and-run while working at border wall

A U.S. Marine was nearly killed by a hit-and-run driver along the Calexico border fence.

Police said the marine was putting up concertina wire on the fence on First Street near Andrade Avenue on Tuesday around 2 p.m.

A car driven by Calexico resident Kevin Leon hit the marine from behind with such force that the front windshield shattered and the right side of the hood smashed in leaving a body-sized dent on it.

Police said Leon didn’t slow down or stop; they couldn’t find any skid marks that would point to that. Instead, Leon continued going east and turned left on Andrade and came face to face with a police unit. At that point, Leon turned around and returned to the scene of the collision.

The marine was airlifted with serious injuries all over his body. He was hit on the day of his birthday. The soldier is in his early 20s.

Police said the marine was wearing full body armor, including a Kevlar helmet. They said those things might have been a factor in that he wasn’t killed by the impact.

Kevin Leon is being charged with hit-and-run and driving under the influence – felonies with possible prison time.