Missing Marines, sailor in training mishap presumed dead

Officials have called off the search and rescue operation for eight service members who went missing after an amphibious assault vehicle accident off San Clemente Island last week.

BREAKING OVERNIGHT... THE SEARCHFOR SEVEN MISSING MARINESAND ONE MISSING SAILOR OFF THECOAST OF SAN DIEGO ENDS INTRAGEDY.ABC 10NEWS REPORTER JARED AARONSJOINS US LIVE... JARED... THEMARINE CORPS SAYS ALL EIGHT ARELIKELY DEATHE SEARCH AND RESCUE ISOFFICIALLY NOW A RECOVERYMISSION... AFTER 40 HOURS OFSEARCHING... COVERING MORETHAN A THOUSAND MILES OF WATER.THOSE EIGHT PEOPLE WERE ON BOARDAN AMPHIBIOUSASSAULT VEHICLE... BASICALLY ATANK ON WATER... WHEN IT SANKDURING ATRAINING EXERCISE THURSDAY.EIGHT OTHER MARINES WEREININTIALLY RESUCED.OF THOSE, ONE DIED.TWO ARE STILL IN CRITICALCONDITION IN THE HOSPITAL.SINCE THEN... FOUR SHIPS, 11HELICOPTERS AND NUMEROUS OTHERSMALL BOATS HAVE BEEN SCOURINGTHE WATER NEAR SAN CLEMENTEISLAND... WITH THE HELP OF THEUS COAST GUARD... TRYING TO FINDTHE MISSING MARINES AND SAILOR.A MARINE COLONEL CALLED THESEARCH EFFORT "TREMENDOUS."ADDING "IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEARTTHAT I DECIDED TO CONCLUDE THESEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT..."AS WE TURN TO RECOVERYOPERATIONS WE WILL CONTINUEOUR EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH FOR OURMISSING MARINES AND SAILOR."AS PART OF THE RECOVERY... THEMARINES WILL NOW USE ANUNDERWATER REMOTE VEHICLE TOSEARCH THE SEA FLOOR.THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT ISSTILL UNDER INVESTIGATION...THE MARINES WILL NOT RELEASE THENAMES OF THE 8 MISSING PEOPLEUNTIL AFTER THEY NOTIFY THEIRFAMILIES.JARED AARONS, ABC 10