MEC&F Expert Engineers : 03/28/15

Saturday, March 28, 2015

WORKER DIES AFTER WEATHER-RELATED ACCIDENT ON SOUTH BEACH AT THE FLAMINGO APARTMENTS IN MIAMI






MARCH 27, 2015

MIAMI, FLORIDA (WSVN) 

A maintenance worker has died after, authorities said, he was struck by a glass tabletop that flew off a building's balcony on South Beach Friday night.

According to Miami Beach Police, the victim was working on an electric gate at the Flamingo Apartments, located at 1560 Bay Road when, around 7:45 p.m., the piece of glass flew off one of the balconies on the ninth floor due to the high winds. 

The balcony was located on the other side of the building where the victim was working, so investigators believe the winds carried the tabletop all the way to the building's entrance.

Paramedics rushed the worker to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Police have not disclosed his name.

STREET RACING LEADS TO FIERY CRASH IN BEVERLY CREST, LOS ANGELES




MARCH 28, 2015

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Two vehicles were racing on Benedict Canyon Drive, near Clear View Drive, about 11:30 p.m. when the incident occurred, said Sgt. Elizabeth Ellis of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division.

One of the vehicles was occupied by three juveniles when the driver lost control and hit a tree, according to Ellis.

The occupants exited the vehicle, which caught fire. They were later transported to a hospital as a precaution due to their age. Their injuries, if any, were minor, the police sergeant said.

After the collision, the driver of the second vehicle waited for police to arrive at the scene, the LAPD said.

Charges that may be filed in connection with the incident were yet to be determined, according to police.
Source: http://ktla.com/

CHICAGO WOMAN KILLED, HER HUSBAND INJURED IN INDIANA FIERY CRASH AFTER CAR PLUMMETS NEARLY 40 FEET





MARCH 28, 2015

A 51-year-old Chicago woman is dead after a fiery car crash Saturday morning in East Chicago, Ind., according to the Lake County Coroner. 

The car crashed through several barriers on the southbound Riley Road exit on Cline Avenue before plunging nearly 40 feet onto BP Amoco Property and bursting into flames. That part of Cline Avenue, which has been closed for more than five years and police say it contains numerous barricades including orange barrels and cones, large signs and concrete barricades. 

Zohra Hussein, a passenger in the car, suffered burns and died as a result of the accident. The car was driven by her husband, who was able to exit the vehicle after the accident and is in Methodist Hospital Northlake Hospital where he is listed in stable condition, police said. 

Police are still investigating to determine the cause of the crash.
Source: http://chicago.cbslocal.com

WOMAN DIED FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING IN VANDALIA, OHIO APARTMENT. 10 PEOPLE EVACUATED.






MARCH 28, 2015

VANDALIA, OHIO

UPDATE: Patricia Borden's husband was checking on her because Patricia wasn't able to meet with him and their kids the day before.

The two were separated and going through a divorce.

Emergency crews didn't know what was wrong when they first got there.

"It was the quick thinking of the captain on-scene that decided they wanted to meter it. It just didn't feel right to them," said Chief Follick with the Vandalia Fire Dept.

Chief Follick says crews will soon be able to detect high levels of CO just by walking into a building.

"We're in the process of ordering meters for our EMS bags right now and they have not come in yet so it was the quick thinking of him (the captain on-scene) that got them indicated to what the problem was and got them out. They immediately evacuated the building," said Chief Follick.

We talked with several people who live in the complex. They say the management puts carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in every apartment.

"I've never had any sort of issue with it. It's never beeped or gone off. They also have smoke detectors, two in each apartment and they replace the batteries in them every six months. "

Two other people were checked out for CO poisoning at the complex but they were not taken to the hospital.

This is just another tragic reminder to not only have detectors but to make sure they're working.

"Every time we do one of these interviews with you guys we make that statement. Usually were here because of a tragic event that we have not had an operating smoke or CO detector," said Chief Follick.

Everyone in the building was evacuated while crews searched for the gas leak.

There's no word on what caused the leak, but we do know each apartment had its own gas-fired hot water heater.

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VANDALIA, OHIO

A woman is dead after succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning.
It happened at the Brookfield Apartments in Vandalia.

Patricia Bolden's, 43, husband was stopping over to check on her Saturday afternoon. That's when he found her lifeless body.


CO levels were extremely high in the apartment. Eight times higher than what can kill a person.

Here is part of the 911 call:Dispatcher: Have you talked to her today or yesterday? Caller: I talked to her yesterday and she said she wasn't feeling well and she asked me to come over and be with her.

Crews do not know where the carbon monoxide leak came from. They are checking each apartment to find the source of the gas.


The carbon monoxide levels were still rising when crews got the scene.We're told every apartment has a carbon monoxide detector.


"Usually were here because of a tragic event that we have not had an operating smoke or carbon monoxide detector. 

There's a carbon monoxide detector are here but I don't know the functionality of it right now," said Vandalia Fire Chief Chad Follick.


About 10 people were evacuated from the building.

SMALL PLANE (A PIPER CUB) CRASH IN MEDINA, OHIO; PILOT INJURED




 

MARCH 28, 2015

MEDINA, OHIO

A small plane crashed just after 7:30 p.m. at 8393 Westfield Road in Medina, according to Ohio Highway Patrol. There is a private airport there.

The plane had only one occupant and that person is injured. The severity of their injuries are unknown.

A prominent Medina business owner suffered head and facial injuries after attempting to land his Piper Cub plane according to fire officials.

Officials said the plane turned over on a runway that sits in the backyard of the pilot’s Westfield Township home.

Ohio Highway Patrol confirms that a medical helicopter landed on scene and the person was taken to Akron City Hospital.  He was said to be alert and talking.

Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.