MEC&F Expert Engineers : 07/17/17

Monday, July 17, 2017

Speeding and reckless SUV driver goes airborne and crashes onto the roof of a home in St. Louis, causing massive damage












Bruce Redding returned home from the gym Sunday afternoon to find an SUV on his roof and much of the front of his house destroyed.

Authorities say the speeding SUV had hit an embankment and launched into the air, like something out of a Hollywood movie, before crashing down on Redding’s roof in the 5900 block of Lillian Avenue. He was told the SUV sped down Mimika Avenue to where that street ends in a T-intersection in front of his home.

“I can see straight through my house,” said Redding, 66, who had recently paid off the home. “This is everything that I’ve worked for all my life, and for someone to run through a stop sign and destroy it ...”


Bruce Redding had an SUV on his house
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

 
Michael Arras, the St. Louis Fire Department’s deputy chief of special operations, said it was like nothing he had ever encountered as a firefighter.

“That’s not one you get every day,” Arras said.

Authorities arrived at the house about 12:40 p.m. to find the SUV on the roof and the driver trapped in the SUV. Firefighters are used to both climbing ladders and rescuing people from crashed cars — but not usually at the same time. Arras said they proceeded carefully.

“We had accessed the roof and the structure to see if it was safe to get on the roof,” Arras said. “It was determined that it was viable. We put just enough on the roof to make the extrication and get off.”

The driver was taken to a hospital. His condition was not known, but fire officials said he was in and out of consciousness after the crash.

Redding, meanwhile, was left with a home that may never be habitable again.

“This is not true,” he recalled saying when he arrived home, alerted by neighbors to the crash. “This can’t be happening.”

Redding recently retired after 22 years at Norwood Hills Country Club, where he was restaurant and bar manager. He said the home on Lillian has been in his family for 40 years, and something similar actually happened in the 1980s or 1990s, when his mother lived in the home. She wasn’t hurt. He’s lived in the home alone for the last 25 years or so.

Family and friends arrived Sunday afternoon to help him salvage some of his belongings. He was able to maneuver himself around in the living room where he used to sit and watch his big screen TV, now destroyed. He said the home was insured.

“The good thing is, I’m alive,” he said.


The bad thing is that the driver is alive.  He lived to do it again, as these morons never learn from their accidents.

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV.com) -

Fire crews were called to a bizarre scene in St. Louis' Walnut Park West neighborhood on Sunday, where a car became trapped in the roof of a house.

The incident happened around 1 p.m. in the 5900 block of Lillian. According to the St. Louis Fire Department, no one was in the house at the time of the accident, but one person was trapped inside of the car.

The St. Louis Fire Department said in a Facebook post that one person was rescued from the vehicle and taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

Larry Davis witnessed exactly how it unfolded.

"I'll tell you I've never seen anything like that in my life...and I probably won't ever see it again," said Davis.

He said it happened just after he got out of church on Sunday morning, which is located at the corner of that intersection. He started going Facebook Live on the scene.

Davis explained to News 4 that the car was driving at high speed down Mimika Ave.

"The car was going pretty fast, maybe 80-90 mph," said Davis.

Once the SUV hit the T-intersection of Mimika Ave. & Lillian Ave., the vehicle drove over the curb, up the small hill or terrace of land in front of the house and launched into the air, landing on the roof of a residential home.

"He never took his foot off the gas. You could tell, he never took his foot off the gas," said Davis.

Davis described the unidentified driver as a male in his 40s.

"He was just happy to be alive. You could tell he had a couple of broken bones. It was visible, a lot of blood," said Davis.

The St. Louis Fire Department said the driver was trapped in his car for about an hour before he was extricated. The SUV sat on the roof for another 3 hours, before a towing company pulled it down.

The owner of the home told News 4 he was at the gym when his neighbor called and said, "Bruce, you got to get back here." Bruce said he is in disbelief but in great spirits. He also said everyone from first responders to the Red Cross has been great in trying to help him out.

Neighbors said this is not the first time a vehicle has ended up in this same yard.

"This is the second time it's happened since I've been here for 6 months," said Angelo Bridges, who lives across the street from the crash. Both he and Davis said the intersection sees reckless driving all the time.

"People just speeding, not stopping for stop signs," said Bridges.

"Our church fence has damage from a car accident that happened just a few weeks ago, but I've never seen anybody come that fast," said Davis.

The city placed a fourth stop sign at this intersection after the first crash last month, but since the second one, the neighbors say that's not enough to prevent the problem. "They need to put some speed bumps or something down," said Bridges.

SPEED KILLS: Speeding and drunk driver Andrew Shakespeare, 33 of Roselle, NJ is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, DWI and reckless driving after he caused the deadly accident on the Grand Central Parkway that left two people dead, including a 16-year-old boy












Update on the Grand Central Parkway fatal accident
Police reported two people dead and one arrested. Andrew Shakespeare, 33 of New Jersey was heading home after they were performing as DJs in a 2014 BMW. Shakespeare was taken into custody after police reported of speeding at 140mph on the westbound Grand Central Parkway near 188th Street. He lost control while changing lanes and sideswiped a 2002 Nissan driven by a Bellerose resident, a 59 year old female who suffered minor injuries. From there, another vehicle, Nissan Rogue was sideswiped driven by a New Hyde Park resident, 52 year old male who also suffered injuries. Both BMW and Rogue went to the eastbound breaking the guard rail hitting a 2012 Mercedes driven by a 38 year old female from Brooklyn. After the impact, two people inside Shakespear's car, Layon Campell, 34 and Akeam Grant, 16 of Brooklyn were dead on the scene. Two more unidentified passengers, 21 and 16 year old males in the BMW were also taken to hospital with injuries. After investigation, Shakespeare was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, vehicular manslaughter and other charges. The incident happened on Sunday, July 16 around 6:30am. 



Grant, pictured above, arrived from Guyana seven months ago leaving his parents for education in NYC while working as a DJ



JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- A New Jersey man has been charged in connection with a multi-vehicle crash in Queens Sunday that left two people dead, including a 16-year-old boy.

33-year-old Andrew Shakespeare of Roselle is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, DWI and reckless driving after police say he caused the accident on the Grand Central Parkway.

Four cars were involved in the pileup that happened at 6:30 a.m. in the vicinity of 188th Street in the Jamaica Estates section.









Photo courtesy @samspinchat via Twitter

Police say Shakespeare was driving a BMW SUV westbound and was speeding.

He switched lanes and hit another car, then lost control of his vehicle and crossed three lanes of traffic, hitting a third car.

Shakespeare's vehicle and that car hit the guardrail, crossed into the eastbound lanes and rolled over.

Two of the four passengers inside Shakespeare's SUV were killed.

They have been identified as 34-year-old Layon Campbell and 16-year-old Akeam Grant, both of Brooklyn.

Seven other people were injured. Shakespeare suffered a minor head injury and refused a breathalyzer test, police say.

He is due to be arraigned Monday.  Hopefully the Judge will force him to change his last name.  Such a moron cannot possibly have such a famous last name.




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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — One person was killed and another eight were injured in a horrific accident on the Grand Central Parkway Sunday morning.

Authorities say a vehicle travelling westbound near 188th Street in Queens crashed through the center divider and into eastbound traffic around 6:30 a.m.

Three vehicles were involved, including a sports utility vehicle that landed on its roof with a body lying on the pavement right behind it, 1010 WINS’ Roger Stern reported.


Another was a mini-van which came to rest on its side.

One witness described what she saw next.

“A lady got out from the roof, and she was trying to grab — maybe it was her daughter — somebody younger, and she was trying to pull her out of the car, but she couldn’t get her out,” she told 1010 WINS. “By the time the cops came, they helped pull her out.”

Authorities say one person died at the scene. Eight others were hurt and are expected to survive, 1010 WINS reported.




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A horrific four-vehicle crash on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens killed a teen and a man early Sunday and left seven others with injuries, police said.

At least one car flipped and another rolled onto its side in the 6:30 a.m. accident caused by a drunken driver, near 188th St. in Jamaica Estates, police said.

Cops arrested Andrew Shakespeare, 33, of New Jersey. Shakespeare caused the fatal crash when he tried to speed past another car in his westbound 2014 BMW SUV and lost control, according to authorities.

Shakespeare’s SUV flew across three lanes, smashed into the guardrail and rolled over into the eastbound lanes, cops said.  


Charges against him include Shakespeare was charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.

Akeam Grant, 16, died at the scene after he was thrown from the backseat, police said. The front-seat passenger, 34-year-old Layon Campbell, died at Elmhurst Hospital Center two hours later.

The seven people who were hurt went to nearby hospitals with minor injuries, cops said.



Twelve hours earlier in Staten Island, cops arrested the driver of a white Hyundai who hit a woman and 4-year-old twins as they crossed a street, police said.

Elizabeth Johnson, 56, hit the 25-year-old woman and the kids, a boy and a girl, at Vanderbilt Ave. and Osgood Ave. in Fox Hills just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday, cops said. EMS workers took the victims to Staten Island University Hospital in stable condition. The little girl suffered a head injury and the boy and the woman had cuts on their faces and legs, cops said.

The victims have the same last name, but their exact relationship could not be determined.

Johnson, who lives in Staten Island, was charged with failure to yield to pedestrians and failure to exercise due care.

There have been 14 motorist fatalities this year through Thursday, a 41% drop from last year when there were 24 for the same period, according to police statistics. There also have been 51 pedestrian fatalities, which represents a 27% decrease from last year's 70.

Overall, a total of 102 people have died in collisions this year through Thursday, including motorcyclists, bicyclists and passengers. That figure represents an 18% decrease from the same period last year, when 125 people died in accidents.


TWO MORE DRIVING, DRUNK AND DEAD TEENS IN TENNESSEE: Johntae Adams, 16, and another teen killed, several injured after speeding and drunk driving in early am hours in Murfreesboro, Tennessee






MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Two teens were killed in a vehicle crash early Saturday morning in Rutherford County.

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of Dilton Mankin Road and Wilson Overall Road southeast of Murfreesboro.

It was unclear exactly what caused the wreck, but authorities had confirmed two teenagers were killed and three others were injured. Most of the students had not been identified.

The father of one of the students who lost his life identified his son as Johntae Adams. His father described him as bubbly. According to the family, they also lost a son a few years ago.

A gofundme account has been set up in memory of Johntae. To donate, click here.

Officials have not publicly identified the second student killed, but several classmates and parents told NewsChannel 5 it was Ethan Economy.

Witnesses reported seeing a LifeFlight medical helicopter near the scene to transport a patient to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

A tow truck was called to the scene and had to pull the vehicle out of Lytle Creek around 8 a.m.

During a vigil held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Blackman High School, the principal confirmed one student remained in the hospital.

Family members identified that student as 17-year-old Trae Swader.
Here is some info posted on Swader's Facebook page:



17-year-old Trae Swader.

A vigil was also held Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at The Experience Church in Murfreesboro to honor the "victims".  What victims?  These were drunk driving and speeding teens. 


The road was blocked off at Redwood Drive for several hours following the crash. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was investigating.

Most drunk-related (or DUI, in general) crashes occur in the early am hours, like here.  Young males do such stupid stunts as their brain is not fully matured (if ever) until their in their mid-twenties.  So, learn from this tragedy and live.



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MURFREESBORO, TN (WSMV) -

Two Blackman High School students are dead and three injured after crashing on Dilton Mankin Road in Murfreesboro early Saturday morning, a spokesperson for the Rutherford Co. Schools confirms.

Blackman High School held a vigil for the victims on Sunday.   Hopefully they told the other teens not to be DDD - Driving Drunk Dead.

According to the Blackman's principal, Dr. Leisa Justus, two of the injured students have been released from the hospital at the time of the vigil. One is still being treated for critical injuries.

The identities of the students involved are still unknown at this time.

"Out of respect for the families’ privacy, the school district cannot release specifics about the medical information regarding the students or the circumstances of the wreck," says James Evans, Communications and Community Relations Coordinator for Rutherford Co. Schools.

Tennessee Highway Patrol and Rutherford Co. Sheriff's Office are still investigating the crash that killed at least two students and will release more information on their investigation after it concludes.

This is a developing story. Stay with Channel 4 for updates. 





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One of the two teens killed in the crash that also injured three other Blackman High School students has been identified by his family.

Sixteen-year old Johntae Adams passed away in the crash, according to his father Theodore. The family also lost a son three years ago at the age of 18.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.

Officials have not publicly identified the second student killed, but several classmates and parents told NewsChannel 5 it was Ethan Economy.

A memorial page on Facebook has been set up by a family member saying, "Ethan was well-loved by so many."

Family members also say 17-year-old Trae Swader was one of three students seriously hurt in a car crash. He underwent surgery on Sunday at Vanderbilt Medical Center for a broken back.

The two others injured are back home recovering from their injuries. One was even at the vigil held at Blackman High School. All of the young men involved were members of the high school's football team.

Tennessee Highway Patrol is handling the investigation surrounding the cause of the crash. They haven't released details of the crash at this point, nor have they identified any of those involved.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Two teens died in a Saturday (7/15/17) morning accident in Rutherford County. The wreck occurred around 3:30AM in the morning.

Apparently, the car ran off the roadway and into a creek near the Dilton Mankin Road and Wilson Overall Road intersection.

Life Flight helicopter flew at least one other teen to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. A 4th and possibly 5th teenager believed to be in the car were also injured. However, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has yet to verify details as the instigation remains open and ongoing.

Saturday night 8:30PM Prayer Vigil:

For those affected by the loss, a prayer vigil will be held at The Experience Church Saturday (7/15/2017) night at 8:30PM. The church is at 521 Old Salem Road in the historic old factory building.

Sunday evening 5-7PM Prayer Vigil:

A second vigil will be held on Sunday evening from 5:00 to 7:00PM at Blackman High School, 3956 Blaze Drive.

Rutherford County School's Community Relations Coordinator James Evans stated, "Blackman High School will host the Sunday evening vigil for students who were involved in the serious automobile wreck. Students, employees, parents and members of the community are welcome to attend. Out of respect for the families' privacy, the school district cannot release specifics about the medical information regarding the students or the circumstances of the wreck."



Do not drink and drive.  Period!
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Blackman High School Mourns Loss of Students

Published: July 17, 2017

While school is not in session, the Blackman High School family has been dealt a blow with the death of two students while three others were injured in a weekend car crash. 

All of the students were on the football team, which just started practice for the upcoming season last week. 

Head coach David Watson says the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. He says he's received calls, texts and tweets from friends and coaches across the state. And Watson says he appreciates the thoughts and prayers. 

He asks that we continue to remember these young men involved in the tragedy as well as their families, friends and teammates. 

Watson says they will have to lean on each other in the days and weeks ahead to get through this difficult time. 

BELOW: Tweet from Blackman Football Head Coach David Watson:

Two young women, LaShae Johnson and Briyana Hayes died, several injured after an Akron, Ohio fire truck T-boned an SUV

LaShae Johnson



LaShae Johnson












AKRON, Ohio -- Two people, including a 16-year-old girl, died Friday after an SUV ran a red light and crashed into an Akron fire truck, police said.

Eight people, including three firefighters, were injured in the crash that happened at 3:45 p.m. on Rhodes Avenue at West Exchange Street, police said.

The three firefighters suffered minor injuries, a police spokesman said.

The 16-year-old girl and the second person, whose age and gender have not been released, suffered fatal injuries in the crash, police said. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office will release the identities of the two people who were killed once their families have been notified.

Witnesses said a fire truck was driving on Rhodes Avenue when an SUV ran a red light on West Exchange Street, police said. The SUV struck the fire truck before it crashed into a utility pole, police said.   However, it appears that the fire truck has a front end damage, while the SUV has a side damage.  It looks that the fire engine T-boned the SUV.  This is what the dead girls' family alleges.

The fire truck was in service but not responding to an emergency at the time, police said.

No other details were immediately available.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Fire Chief Clarence Tucker said the crash was "tragic" and an investigation was launched to determine the cause of the fatal collision in a joint statement issued Friday afternoon. Read the statement below:

"We are deeply saddened by this truly tragic incident. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims and all individuals involved, including the three members of our Fire Department.

The City is conducting a full investigation into the events surrounding this accident and will provide additional information to the public as it is known. We encourage residents to await accurate information from the authorities regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, and to join us in lifting up those affected in their thoughts and prayers." The Akron Police Department's Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit is on scene to complete



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2 people were killed and six others injured after an Akron (Ohio) engine company collided with an SUV on Friday afternoon. One of those who died was a 16-year-old girl.


Three of those hurt in the crash were Akron firefighters, but sustained minor injuries.


The fire apparatus was heading to a training detail and not responding to an emergency call when the SUV went through a red light and proceeded to strike the rig.


Our condolences to all and our thoughts to the Firefighters involved. 


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AKRON - Two teens who died after their SUV collided with an Akron fire truck have been identified.

LaShae Johnson, a 16-year-old junior at Akron East High School, and Briyana Hayes, a 15-year-old sophomore at Buchtel High School, were killed in the crash on Rhodes and Exchange Friday Afternoon, according to Akron Public Schools. A GoFundMe account has been set up in LaShae's name.

Six others were injured in the accident. Three of those hurt were Akron firefighters, but they apparently only sustained minor injuries.

Investigators say the fire engine was heading to a training exercise and not responding to an emergency call when the crash occurred.

Akron Police Chief Dan Zampelli says that according to witnesses, the SUV went through a red light and proceeded to strike the fire truck.

On Friday evening, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Fire Chief Clarence Tucker issued a joint statement:

“We are deeply saddened by this truly tragic incident. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims and all individuals involved, including the three members of our Fire Department.

The City is conducting a full investigation into the events surrounding this accident and will provide additional information to the public as it is known. We encourage residents to await accurate information from the authorities regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, and to join us in lifting up those affected in their thoughts and prayers.”

TWO MORE SPEEDING, DRUNK YOUNG PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES: Brittany Martin, 22 and Frankee Rose, 22 were killed in a fiery crash, when Rose's Honda Accord crashed through a street lamp, a backyard fence and then a home in Lincoln, California

Brittany Martin, 22, dead (right) with Nina Biner (left) her BFF











Frank Rose, 22, the stupid idiot drunk driver who killed Brittany Martin and himself in a fiery crash



Young people (and others) please learn from this preventable tragedy and live.  Just stop and think very carefully before your drink and drive or before any action your take in your life.  Snap out of stupid decisions.


LINCOLN, CA-- Hundreds gathered Saturday to hold a candlelight vigil to remember two young lives lost in a fatal crash in Lincoln, California.

Twenty-two-year-olds Brittany Martin and Frankee Rose were killed when Rose's Honda Accord left McBean Park Drive and hit a house early Saturday morning.

Police are still investigating the events leading up to the crash, but two friends told FOX40 they were with the driver early in the night at a bar in Rocklin.

Now those who knew them hope others take away a lesson from their loss.

Martin was a passenger in Rose's car when, for still unknown reasons, it crashed through a street lamp, a backyard fence and then a home. The car quickly caught fire and the two did not survive.

Martin had just graduated from Sonoma State University and started a new marketing job two weeks ago. Rose was working as a real estate agent and was on the verge of making his first sale.

The two Oakmont High School graduates had gone to prom together.  They most certainly will not do this again, as they reached their final destination very-very soon.


Very saddened to find out today that one of our basketball family, Brittany Martin, lost her life today in a tragic accident at the young age of 22 ! Brittany played for the Sacramento Sting as well as at Oakmont High School with my daughters. An outstanding Point Guard she earned a spot on the Sonoma State University Women's Basketball team. She just graduated this spring and was heading for a bright future. I personally watched her play hundreds of games with my daughter and I am devastated by the news. My thoughts and prayers go to her family! May her memory be eternal.


Here is some info from Frankee Rose's Facebook pages:

  • Realtor at Keller Williams Realty | Folsom, CA
  • Went to Oakmont High School
    Class of 2013
  • Lived in Roseville, California
    From Sacramento, California
Frankee Rose, center- drunk and driving and dead (D&D&D).  Responsible for the death of Brittany Martin, 22.
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LINCOLN, CA-- The Lincoln Police Department is investigating a crash that killed two people early Saturday morning.

Around 12:20 a.m. police received a report of a vehicle fire on McBean Park Drive between A and B streets. When they arrived they saw that the vehicle had crashed into a home.

Both the home and the car were on fire.



When the fire was extinguished, officers discovered two dead people in the car.

No one in the home was hurt.

Authorities believe the vehicle was traveling westbound on McBean Park Drive, left the roadway striking a light pole at A Street. The driver then traveled through a fence, and came to a stop when it hit the home.

The identities of the deceased has not been released at this time.