By — Robert Burns, Associated Press Robert Burns, Associated Press By — Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/navy-to-file-homicide-charges-against-2-commanders-over-fatal-ship-collisions-last-year Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Navy to file homicide charges against 2 commanders over fatal ship collisions last year Nation Jan 16, 2018 7:19 PM EDT WASHINGTON — The Navy says it is filing negligent homicide charges against the commanders of two ships involved in fatal collisions last year. The charges are to be presented at what the military calls an Article 32 hearing, which will determine whether the accused are court-martialed. READ MORE: Do U.S. Navy collisions weaken our defense against a North Korean missile attack? The actions, including charges against several lower-ranking officers, were announced Tuesday by the Navy’s chief spokesman, Capt. Greg Hicks. Hicks says the decision to file charges was made by Adm. Frank Caldwell, head of the Navy’s nuclear reactors program, who reviewed evidence of what caused the collisions. The USS Fitzgerald collided with a commercial ship in waters off Japan in June, killing seven sailors. Ten sailors were killed when the USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker in Southeast Asia in August. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Robert Burns, Associated Press Robert Burns, Associated Press By — Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Navy says it is filing negligent homicide charges against the commanders of two ships involved in fatal collisions last year. The charges are to be presented at what the military calls an Article 32 hearing, which will determine whether the accused are court-martialed. READ MORE: Do U.S. Navy collisions weaken our defense against a North Korean missile attack? The actions, including charges against several lower-ranking officers, were announced Tuesday by the Navy’s chief spokesman, Capt. Greg Hicks. Hicks says the decision to file charges was made by Adm. Frank Caldwell, head of the Navy’s nuclear reactors program, who reviewed evidence of what caused the collisions. The USS Fitzgerald collided with a commercial ship in waters off Japan in June, killing seven sailors. Ten sailors were killed when the USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker in Southeast Asia in August. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now