Eyewitness describes scene where Marine was injured

Calexico Police identified 20-year-old Kevin Joseph Leon as the man who drove the car that hit a U.S. Marine from behind as he worked on the U.S.- Mexico border wall on Tuesday afternoon.

An eyewitness described the chaotic scene to 13 On Your Side at First Street and Andrade Avenue.

Calexico resident Carlos Guzman Negrete said, “We saw a lot of patrol cars, paramedics, police. We couldn’t go into our apartment. The street was blocked off. We saw soldiers running.”

Leon’s car had major damage to windshield and hood, reportedly where the Marine’s body crashed.

“We saw a car that had the hood and window smashed. We thought someone got run over,” Negrete said.

He said the Marine on the ground was in intense pain.

“He was giving really painful cries, very strong. Maybe he was bleeding a lot. He looked very weak. Almost without any strength left in him,” Negrete said.

Negrete said it took a long time to take the injured Marine to the hospital. He’s reported in serious condition.

“He was there on the ground a long time because I came out again in about an hour and he was still there. They were trying to put him on a gurney but he was in too much pain and they couldn’t,” Negrete said.

Leon is being charged with hit-and-run and driving under the influence – both serious felonies. He’s free on a $50,000 bond.