Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne, a Boatswain Mate onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, died early in the morning of Dec. 2, 2012 from injuries sustained during law enforcement operations near Santa Cruz Island, Calif.
The Halibut was investigating a panga-type vessel suspected of illicit activities.
The cutter deployed its small boat which made an approach on the suspect vessel. When the Coast Guard small boat approached with its blue law enforcement light energized, the suspect vessel, identified to be a profile Mexican style panga, maneuvered at a high rate of speed directly towards the Coast Guard small boat and struck it before fleeing the scene.
Two Coast Guard members were thrown from the boat into the water, and both members were immediately recovered by the Coast Guard small boat. Upon recovery it appeared that Chief Horne had sustained a traumatic head injury and the other had minor injuries.
The incident remains under investigation.
For more information, visit Coast Guard Compass.
