A.J. Ross is live in Astoria with the latest details.
Eyewitness News
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 05:01PM
ASTORIA, Queens (WABC) -- Two elderly people were injured, one critically, when they were struck by a van along a busy street in Queens.
The crash happened just before 3 p.m. at the intersection of Broadway and 32nd Street in Astoria - just a block from the N/Q subway station.
The victims are an 80-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man.
Both were taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where the woman is in critical condition, and the man is in stable condition.
The pedestrians were struck after the driver of a white cargo van thought he had put the van in park and exited the vehicle to go into a nearby store.
The van was not in gear and rolled back through the intersection and up onto a curb on the opposite side, hitting the two victims, who were standing near a food truck.
Witnesses say several people quickly rushed over to help and dialed 911 before medics arrived and tended to the injured pair.
The operator of the van stayed at the scene as the investigation continues.
Eyewitness News
Updated 2 hrs 26 mins ago
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Hermine has formed from a system swirling in the Gulf of Mexico, with a path that's projected to pass over the New York City area over the Labor Day weekend.
The center said a hurricane hunter plane has determined that a tropical depression strengthened Wednesday into the named storm and Hermine now boasts top sustained winds of 45 mph.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Hermine is centered about 350 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida and is drifting at 7 mph toward the north-northeast.
The updated predicted path has the storm moving even farther west, showing all of the Tri-State in the storm's possible path.
Meteorologist Lee Goldberg said if the storm stays over land, it will weaken by the time it reaches our region, but it will still be a significant event. In this scenario, we could expect Nor'easter-like weather, with a lot of rain and wind.
these are the current headlines for the NYC region:
* Rough surf and rip currents through the Labor Day weekend
* Saturday is best bet for weekend plans, but clouds will be increasing throughout the day
* Brunt of Hermine would be on Sunday
Here is the projected path of this storm:
The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning for parts of Florida stretching from northwest of Tampa to an area east of Panama City, as well as a tropical storm watch on the east coast of Florida and Georgia.
Eric Blake of the National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm will likely dump around 5 inches of rain on areas of central and north Florida as it approaches the state Thursday. Some areas could see up to 15 inches of rain.
This interactive map allows you to see the real-time status of each system:
This storm was originally called Tropical Depression 9 (TD9).
Hannah McLain, 22, a volunteer organized by a local Baton Rouge church, helps throw out waterlogged items from the home of Rhonda Brewer in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Aug. 16. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
Major property damage, significant business interruption, and 13 deaths resulted from the extensive flooding in southern Louisiana in early August.
Some regions received as much as 15-30 inches of rain over a two-day period, according to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide.
In White Bayou (East Baton Rouge Parish) 26.14” of rainfall was recorded. Parts of the region received two to four times the average total monthly rainfall for August in just three days.
Few had flood insurance
Initial estimates from Louisiana’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness indicate that more than 60,000 homes have been damaged in the 20 parishes impacted. The flood-affected area also contains an estimated 7,364 businesses, employing 73,907 individuals.
Torrential downpours have sent at least six river gauges to record levels in Louisiana.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that 42 percent of homes in high-risk areas of Louisiana have flood insurance, but that in low and moderate-risk zones only 12.5 percent or so of homes do. Across Baton Rouge as a whole, no more than 15 percent of all homes have flood insurance, and in the other hard-hit location, Lafayette, the rate is 14 percent.
Many of the areas that flooded were outside the 100-year floodplain and were not considered at high risk.
Temporary housing a pressing need
Business Recovery Centers have already opened in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Baker, Prairieville, Walker and Amite, and Disaster Recovery Centers for the general population are open in flooded areas.
With so many people forced from their homes, the immediate need is temporary housing. A task force has been established by FEMA to identify options, and these reportedly include manufactured housing units that meet or exceed government certifications.
More than 110,000 people have already registered with FEMA for federal disaster aid. At least $20 million has been distributed in advanced payments to National Flood Insurance Program policyholders so far and the number of claims being submitted is climbing rapidly.
Short-term relief
For residents without flood insurance, short-term relief for immediate needs is available from FEMA, but the most available under the Assistance to Individuals and Households program is just $33,000, and few will be eligible for this maximum payout. At least $55 million to help survivors with temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs, and other serious disaster-related needs has already been approved.
Take a look at images of the ongoing clean up following the extensive flooding in southern Louisiana:
In this Aug. 25 photo, debris from gutted homes line the streets of Baton Rouge, La. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Phot)
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, right, tours a flood damaged home in Youngsville, La., Thursday, Aug. 25 Emergency response coordinators accompanied Gov. Edwards on the tour. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
Richard Harrington, left, watches as debris from his gutted home is taken away in Denham Springs, La., Wednesday, Aug. 24 The Harrington's and their two daughters moved into their dream home in Denham Springs a few weeks before water demolished the century-old house and ruined brand-new furniture. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry, left, listens to Theatre Antiques Mall owner, Elvin Watts, tell him how high the water reached in his business in Denham Springs, La., Wednesday, Aug. 24. Landry fears it could take years for this city to fully recover. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
People's lives reduced to piles of rubble following major flooding in Louisiana. (Photo: Spex)
An abandoned boat sits by the side of Walker South Road in Walker, La., Sunday, Aug. 21. Hundreds of residents were rescued from flooded homes. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
Friends and family help to clean out the flood damaged home of Sheila Siener, 58, second from left, in St. Amant, La., Saturday, Aug. 20. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
In this image made from video, Willie Brooks III walks through Plainview Cemetery, Thursday, Aug. 18, in Denham Springs, La. With an estimated 40,000 homes damaged by deadly flooding, Louisiana could be looking at its biggest housing crunch since the miserable, bumbling aftermath of Hurricane Katrina a decade ago. (Photo: Joshua Replogle/AP Photo)
In this image made from video, Willie Brooks III speaks about the grave of his grandmother and how it's gone due to flooding, Thursday, Aug. 18, in Plainview Cemetery in Denham Springs, La. (Photo: Joshua Replogle/AP Photo)
A growing pile of debris sits outside the flood-ravaged home of Carolyn and James Smith in Denham Springs, La. on Wednesday, Aug 17. Smith says she and four other adults will live for the time being in the travel trailer that one of her sons towed to the driveway after weekend flooding inundated the area. (Photo: Kevin McGill/AP Photo)
Terry Brewer, left, and Timothy Harris pile up debris outside a flooded auto parts store in Albany, La. on Wednesday, Aug 17. The U.S. Small Business Administration plans to open several south Louisiana locations to help businesses damaged by record flooding. (Photo: Kevin McGill/AP Photo)
Raymond Lieteau takes photos his flood damaged home in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Aug. 16. Lieteau had more than five feet of water in his home. At least 40,000 homes were damaged and eight people killed in the historic Louisiana floods, the governor said, giving a stark assessment of the widespread disaster. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
Giovanni DeCarlo, 35, loads a bag of clothes on a boat as he helps friend Laura Albritton, salvage personal belongings from her flooded home in Sorrento, La., Saturday, Aug. 20. Louisiana continues to dig itself out from devastating floods, with search parties going door to door looking for survivors or bodies trapped by flooding. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
In this aerial photo over Amite, La., flooded homes are seen from heavy rains inundating the region, Saturday, Aug. 13. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
In this Aug. 25 photo, debris from gutted homes line the streets of Baton Rouge, La. (Photo: Max Becherer/AP Photo)
1 dead in small plane crash in southern Illinois
Posted 10:55 pm, August 30, 2016, by Associated Press, Updated at 10:47pm, August 30, 2016
MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (AP) _ Authorities say one person is dead after an ultralight plane crash in southern Illinois.
Jefferson County Coroner Eddie Joe Marks tells The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan (http://bit.ly/2bQhkXF) that one male died.
Marks says the crash happened around 4 p.m. on Tuesday in Mount Vernon.
Marks says an autopsy has been planned.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony Molinaro said late Tuesday that the crash happened just south of the airport in Mount Vernon. He says it’s believed that ultralight is so small that it may not be considered an aircraft and local law enforcement are likely to complete the investigation.
No further details were immediately available.
Coroner confirms fatal Jefferson County plane crash
Jefferson County Coroner Eddie Joe Marks confirmed one death resulting from a ultralight plane crash Tuesday in Jefferson County.
The crash happened sometime around 4 p.m. Marks said the crash was about a half mile south of the airport and that there was one male killed. The name is not being released at this time. The Federal Aviation Administration will arrive Wednesday to investigate. An Autopsy is planned for Thursday, Marks said.
Date:
30-AUG-2016
Time: 16:00
Type: Quicksilver
Owner/operator:
Registration: Unregistered
C/n / msn:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Jefferson County, east Mount Vernon, Il - 
United States of America
Phase: Unknown
Nature: Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Narrative:
The aircraft impacted farm field terrain south of Mount Vernon Airport (KMVN) in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The ultralight airplane sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injuries.
Sources:
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/coroner-confirms-fatal-jefferson-county-plane-crash/article_0bcdde64-6f73-5fce-b4a3-a0950b14f672.html
http://fox2now.com/2016/08/30/coroner-1-dead-in-small-plane-crash-in-southern-illinois/
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3133268,-88.8558042,15z/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-us
http://www.asias.faa.gov/pls/apex/f?p=100:95:0::NO::P95_EVENT_LCL_DATE,P95_LOC_CITY_NAME,P95_REGIST_NBR:30-AUG-16,MOUNT%20VERNON,UNREGISTERED
http://www.quicksilveraircraft.com
Plane Crash and Fire Near River's Edge RV Park Posted: Aug 30, 2016 9:27 PM EST Updated: Aug 31, 2016 3:58 AM EST
A small plane crashed and erupted into flames at the River's Edge RV Park in Sparks Tuesday night. It happened around 6:00 p.m. near Rock Park.
The FAA reports the single-engine Beechcraft A36 was inbound to Reno when it crashed under unknown circumstances.
Authorities say there are no injuries that have been reported and everyone has been accounted for on the ground. The occupants of the aircraft are still unknown. They say there was a popping of propane in the RV park and at this time, all of River's Edge RV Park has been evacuated.
The condition of the pilot or anyone else who may have been on board is unclear, but there were no injuries on the ground.
Residents have been able to return to their homes and emergency crews have left for the night as investigators remain on scene investigating the crash.
Greta Woyciehowsky, with the Sparks Police Department said, "The plane nose-dived into the asphalt just next to the vehicles and the trailer. It didn't strike it."
A single-engine Beechcraft instantly broke out into flames when it crashed.
Bob Smith, a resident said, "There was an engine that sounded like it was having a real struggle. And then there was this huge boom."
Dennis Jordan, who also lives at the River's Edge RV Park adds, "I thought that I heard the airplane and everything just happened so fast. There was fire going up the street and down the street and a lot of smoke."
Residents quickly evacuated the area after shrapnel damaged several trailers and cars. The fire also started to spread in the RV park.
In the chaotic moment, one witness described a dangerous scene. Jeremy Twitt said, "There was a lot of pandemonium. Craziest thing was watching the people run back in to get their stuff into the flaming fifth wheels."
Emergency responders were doing their best to get bystanders out of and away from the propane tanks possibly exploding. Police say ultimately everyone on the ground walked away safely.
"A lot of them here are long-term residents. Some of them for many many years. These are their homes to them," said Woyciehowsky.
Jordan adds, "Everybody in the trailers got out. I've seen all my neighbors, so I'm happy about that."
Sanford Friedlander witnessed the whole ordeal from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, where officials say the plane was inbound to land.
"It looked like it was flying normally for a moment, then it sort of just flipped vertically and went straight into the ground. Then a big fireball. And a big cloud of black smoke," said Friedlander.
Authorities still haven't released the condition or identity of the pilot or anyone else who may have been on board.
"Until those families are notified, I don't think we're going to be releasing any more information and we hope it's soon. We're in contact with the coroners office and they usually handle that," said Woyciehowsky.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be talking over the investigation to find out more about this plane crash.
Resident of Rivers Edge are being let back into their homes as of 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
We'll update you as we learn more information.
Date:
30-AUG-2016
Time: 18:15
Type: 
Beech A36 Bonanza
Owner/operator: Venture Aviation Services LLC
Registration: N985CA
C/n / msn: E-1901
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Washoe County, Sparks, NV - United States of America
Phase: Approach
Nature: Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport: Reno/Tahoe Int'l (KRNO)
Narrative:
The aircraft impacted a recreational vehicle park in Sparks while on approach to Runways 16 at Reno/Tahoe International Airport (KRNO), Reno, Nevada. The airplane was destroyed by the impact sequence and subsequent fire. The pilot and passenger onboard the aircraft received fatal injuries. There were no reported ground injuries.
Sources:
http://www.ktvn.com/story/32926291/fire-at-rivers-edge-rv-park
http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2016/08/30/small-airplane-crash-causes-fire-sparks-rv-park/89615342/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=
http://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Witnesses-report-plane-crash-near-Rock-Park-391817461.html
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5212743,-119.7656168,18z/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-us
http://www.asias.faa.gov/pls/apex/f?p=100:95:0::NO::P95_EVENT_LCL_DATE,P95_LOC_CITY_NAME,P95_REGIST_NBR:31-AUG-16,RENO,N985CA
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?nNumberTxt=985CA
http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2016/08/31/pilot-and-passenger-died-sparks-plane-crash/89655416/
