Five claims filed against Marine Corps in ether-related fatal car accident

By Jim Greene

Published on September 12, 2005

Lucas Borges, is now serving a 24- to 32-year sentence is a civilian prison for the accident that killed one person and injured four others in November 2004. Attorney Jeff Weber has filed a form requesting a settlement. The filing accuses the Marine Corps of negligence, citing records that show Borges was caught in May 2004 inhaling diesel starter fluid, which is mostly ether, in a base maintenance building, and again in October, in his car, which was parked in a wooded area of the base.

On Nov. 2, 2004, Borges was driving his 1992 Camaro east in the westbound lane of a North Carolina highway when it collided head on with a PT Cruiser. James Wilson was killed in the accident, and William Wilson, Melanie Ritter, Candice Lee, and Mark Clark were injured. Canisters of diesel starting fluid were found in Borges' car and ether was present in his blood.

Records indicate Borges spent about two months in a Camp Lejune brig after his first offense, but received no substance-abuse counseling and was reassigned to the same building where he was caught inhaling. After the second offense, his car was returned to him with starting fluid canisters still in it.

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