Marine, in city for Fleet Week, is killed

A Marine in town for Fleet Week was struck by a car and killed as he tried to cross the West Side Highway en route to his ship early Thursday, New York City police said.

He is Steven Charles Jorgenson, 22, of Corpus Christi, Texas, according to the Corpus Christi Caller Times.

Police said Jorgenson had just gotten out of a taxi and was returning with fellow Marines to the USS Iwo Jima, which is docked at Pier 88, when he was struck by a 2003 Acura traveling south at West 49th Street.

The accident happened at 1 a.m., police said. The driver of the Acura, 39, who was not identified, drove a block south to West 48th Street before he pulled over, stopped and called 911, police said. He then walked back to the accident scene to wait for police and EMS.

Jorgenson was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The others were not injured.

Police said a preliminary investigation found no criminality.

"This is a sad day for the Marine Corps, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this Marine," Col. Frank Donovan, commander of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said at a morning briefing.

During Fleet Week, U.S. naval ships dock in the city. It ends on Memorial Day with a flyover honoring U.S. military personnel who died in service.

With John Valenti