‘Feels like he’s still on leave’: Families mourning after crash that killed 3 Navy sailors

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) - Three service members assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola died in an Oct. 24 crash in Florida, the Navy confirmed.

What happened

The vehicle was traveling westbound when it hit a barrier at M Street and caught fire, Pensacola police said.

All three sailors were pronounced dead at the scene.

Sailors identified

The Navy said two of the sailors killed were assigned to the Naval Air Technical Training Center. The third was assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command.

Cmdr. David Gardner, a spokesperson for Naval Education and Training Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola, identified the service members as:

• Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Dracon Bagley
• Aviation Ordnanceman Recruit Francois Longdayeyambete
• Airman Apprentice David Deanda

Bagley, of Michigan, enlisted in the Navy on May 14.

Longdayeyambete, of Massachusetts, enlisted on July 9.

“He’s the best one that anyone could ever ask for. He always had my back every time my mom would get mad at me. He always told me right from wrong,” Longdayeyambete’s brother Joseph said.

Dane Laboissonniere, Longdayeyambete’s school football coach, said his former player always wanted to be an aeronautical engineer.

Deanda, of California, enlisted in the Navy on June 4.

“It just feels like he’s still on leave. So, he ain’t coming home, but, we think like, ‘Oh, he’s still out there,’” Deanda’s father said.

Navy statement

The Navy also issued a statement.

“The Navy is mourning the loss of our shipmates and extends our deepest condolences to the sailors’ families, friends and fellow sailors during this difficult time,” the statement said.

Navy chaplains are providing grief counseling and support.

Investigation

The circumstances leading up to the crash are still under investigation.