Military jet crashes into homes in Southern California




A AV-8B Harrier jet based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona crashed Wednesday, June 4, 2014, in a neighborhood in Imperial, California, the Marines said in a statement. (Photo: CNN Wire)



(CNN) -- A military jet based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona crashed Wednesday in a neighborhood in Imperial, California, the Marines said in a statement.

Three homes were destroyed and eight evacuated -- but there were no reports of civilian injuries, officials said.

The AV-8B Harrier pilot ejected safely and suffered only minor injuries, the Marines said.

The jet crashed about 4:20 p.m. PT in Imperial, about 90 miles east of San Diego.



Authorities are investigating the cause.

"I heard like a pop and a whistle. And right when I looked up is when I saw the pilot eject," Shaun Penniman told CNN affiliate KGTV.




CNN's Mayra Cuevas and Greg Morrison contributed to this report.




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