5 people in a Mercedes sport-utility vehicle were killed when it failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into a tractor-trailer truck in a fiery collision Tuesday morning west of San Joaquin

5 dead, 1 airlifted after big rig, SUV collide in western Fresno County


By Marc Benjamin


September 05, 2017


Five people in a Mercedes sport-utility vehicle were killed when it crashed into a tractor-trailer rig in a fiery collision Tuesday morning west of San Joaquin, according to California Highway Patrol reports.

The collision occurred about 9 a.m. when the eastbound Mercedes apparently was driven through a stop sign and struck by the northbound big rig at Manning Avenue and Highway 33, said CHP Steve Schuh. The truck didn’t have a stop sign. The crash caused a fire, and three people died inside the Mercedes, he said.

Schuh said two people were pulled from the Mercedes after the fire started, but they also died at the scene.


The truck driver, whose vehicle was carrying gravel, was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with major injuries.

The identities of the dead and injured were not immediately available, but the Mercedes is registered from the Hayward area, according to CHP reports.


One of the truck’s diesel tanks ruptured, leaving a hazardous materials spill to clean up, Schuh said. About 60 gallons spilled on the roadway, he said.

The two roads will remain closed for several hours, Schuh said.

================








FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — A fifth person has died following a crash Tuesday morning.

CHP says a vehicle was involved with a big rig at Manning Ave. and Highway 33 in west Fresno County.

The vehicle caught fire, which then spread to the big rig.

Highway 33 is closed north of Manning Ave.

CHP says the the vehicle involved is a Mercedes SUV from Hayward, Calif.

CHP says it appears the SUV ran the stop sign and was hit by the big rig.

The road is expected to remain closed for several hours.

RECKLESS HIKER(S) CAUSE MASSIVE EAGLE CREEK FIRE IN OREGON: the cause of the 3,000-acre Eagle Creek fire that stranded 140 hikers Saturday night was caused by misuse of fireworks; suspect identified

the cause of the 3,000-acre Eagle Creek fire that stranded 140 hikers Saturday night was caused by fireworks; one suspect has been identified. 
 
By Rebecca Woolington

rwoolington@oregonian.com

The Oregonian/OregonLive

Idiot With Fireworks Starts Columbia River Gorge Fire That Strands 150 Hikers and Threatens Town of Cascade Locks

The fire has consumed 3,000 acres of pristine forest that Portlanders treat as a playground

Police and fire investigators say they now believe the cause of the 3,000-acre Eagle Creek fire that stranded 140 hikers Saturday night was caused by fireworks.

Oregon State Police said Sunday afternoon that they've identified a suspect whose "misuse of fireworks" might have sparked the blaze in the Columbia River Gorge, about 40 miles east of Portland. Police did not release more information, but said they would share additional information as the investigation continues.

Officials evacuated hikers from the trail and started busing the groups late Sunday morning to the Cascade Salmon Hatchery, said Rachel Pawlitz, a spokeswoman for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The fish hatchery, where family members waited to reunite with the hikers, is at the Eagle Creek Trail's head.

The third and final bus dropped off the last batch of hikers shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday. All hikers have now been accounted for.

Among the evacuated hikers was Sarah Carlin Ames, a Portland attorney, who described a very trying experience. She posted a photo online Sunday of her family, including her husband, Peter Carlin, and their grown children.

They look tired, but are all smiles.

"24 miles and a cold night spooning on the bare ground later, we survived the Eagle Creek Fire of 2017," she wrote. "...Exhausted, blistered, and proud of our kids. What an ordeal."

Carlin Ames and Carlin are former Oregonian reporters.

Firefighters Sunday morning were trying to develop a containment strategy for the fire, said Stephen Baker, a regional spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. Officials were first focused on evacuating the hikers and protecting the Cascade Locks community, which is under evacuation orders.

"Our top priority, at this point, is safety," Baker said.

Officials say the fire ignited Saturday afternoon, quickly spreading east because of dry conditions. Oregon State Police is investigating, but further information about what happened was not available.

The forest service is closing all trails between the Herman Creek and Eagle Creek trails, including the popular Wahclella Falls Trail, Pawlitz said. Baker said an incident management team has responded to take control of both the Eagle Creek and Indian Creek fires. The Indian Creek blaze, which had already closed a portion of the Eagle Creek Trail, started July 4 at 7 ½ Mile Camp. Within the past day, Pawlitz said, the Indian Creek fire has doubled in size and is now burning about 700 acres. 




=========

Idiot With Fireworks Starts Columbia River Gorge Fire That Strands 150 Hikers and Threatens Town of Cascade Locks The fire has consumed 3,000 acres of pristine forest that Portlanders treat as a playground.

By Aaron Mesh

Updated September 4, 2017



An idiot setting off fireworks near Punchbowl Falls is the likely cause of a wildfire in the Columbia River Gorge that has consumed 3,000 acres, stranded 153 hikers overnight on a trail, and has the town of Cascade Locks preparing to evacuate over Labor Day weekend.


Oregon State Police announced this afternoon that the likely cause of the forest fire was this moron using fireworks on the Eagle Creek trail, one of the most popular destinations in the waterfall district east of Portland.

“We believe that fireworks is the cause,” says Sgt. Kaipo Raiser of the Oregon State Police. “We do have a suspect identified. No one has been arrested at this point. Potentially, there could be criminal penalties as well.”

The fire started Saturday afternoon, at the start of a three-day weekend where tinderbox conditions caused state forestry officials to beg revelers to be careful.

Someone wasn’t. Joel Ives of Hood River County Sheriff’s Office says the fire began “about a mile up from the Eagle Creek trailhead, which would be really close to Punchbowl Falls.” The photogenic pools are one of the most popular spots in the gorge for swimming, cliff jumping and pot smoking.


By 5:30 pm Saturday, 153 hikers were stranded by fire and smoke on the Eagle Creek trail—a steeply graded hike with 200-foot cliffs on one side. They headed uphill and huddled outdoors overnight.


This afternoon, school buses picked up the hikers at the top of the trail. One was taken to a hospital, dehydrated.


“We had them all continue up the Eagle Creek trail to Wahtum Lake and our search and rescue team met them there,” says Ives. “All known groups of hikers have been rescued and reunited. We’re still taking calls about people who may or may not have been in the area.”

The fire has grown to 3,000 acres, and is threatening to reach Cascade Locks, a town best known for the Bridge of the Gods. More than 130 homes in Cascade Locks have been evacuated, and Raiser says the entire town could be told to leave if winds pick up.

The schmuck-caused fire quadruples the number of acres burning in the Columbia River Gorge and has choked the air with smoke from Hood River to Gresham. Forestry and police officials say they’re having a hard enough time dealing with natural fires across the state, without worrying about people setting more.

“Not just fireworks—any kind of unattended fires is an extremely huge concern for us in this dry season,” says Raiser.

Police continue to ask Oregonians to not ruin the state’s most beautiful places by lighting bottle rockets and flares in the woods like a bunch of assholes. UPDATE, 9:20 pm: WW‘s news partner KATU-TV reports the suspect in the fire is a teenage boy. Oregon State Police say he is cooperating with the investigation, and could face charges including arson and reckless endangerment

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 ADVISORY: IRMA BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE

00
WTNT31 KNHC 061448
TCPAT1

BULLETIN
Hurricane Irma Advisory Number  30
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL112017
1100 AM AST Wed Sep 06 2017

...EYE OF POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE IRMA
CLOSING IN ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...


SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...18.2N 64.0W
ABOUT 65 MI...110 KM ESE OF ST. THOMAS
ABOUT 140 MI...225 KM E OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...185 MPH...295 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...918 MB...27.11 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the north coast of Haiti
from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le
Mole St. Nicholas.  A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for
for the coast of Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to
Port-Au-Prince.

The government of France has discontinued all warnings for
Guadeloupe.

The government of Antigua has discontinued all warnings for Antigua,
Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Anguilla
* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
* British Virgin Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with
Haiti
* Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le
Mole St. Nicholas
* Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province
* Central Bahamas

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the
southern border with Haiti
* Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area.  Preparations to protect life and
property should be rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.  A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as well as
Cuba, the northwestern Bahamas, and Florida should monitor the
progress of Irma.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States,
including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office. For storm information specific to your area outside the
United States, please monitor products issued by your national
meteorological service.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Irma was located
near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 64.0 West. Irma is moving toward
the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this general motion is
expected to continue for the next couple of days. On the forecast
track, the extremely dangerous core of Irma will move over portions
of the Virgin Islands very soon, pass near or just north of Puerto
Rico this afternoon or tonight, pass near or just north of the
coast of the Dominican Republic Thursday, and be near the Turks and
Caicos and southeastern Bahamas late Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 185 mph (295 km/h) with higher
gusts.  Irma is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity are likely
during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a
powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (85 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles
(295 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 918 mb (27.11 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
STORM SURGE:  The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and
large breaking waves will raise water levels ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS by the following amounts within the hurricane warning area
near and to the north of the center of Irma.  Near the coast, the
surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Northern Leeward Islands...7 to 11 ft
Turks and Caicos Islands...15 to 20 ft
Southeastern Bahamas...15 to 20 ft
Northern coast of the Dominican Republic...3 to 5 ft
Northern coast of Haiti and the Gulf of Gonave...1 to 3 ft

The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will
cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising
waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water is expected to
reach the following HEIGHTS ABOVE GROUND if the peak surge occurs at
the time of high tide...

British and U.S. Virgin Islands except St. Croix...7 to 11 ft
Northern coast of Puerto Rico...4 to 6 ft
Southern coast of Puerto Rico and St. Croix...2 to 4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.

WIND:  Hurricane conditions will continue today within the hurricane
warning area in the Leeward Islands.  Hurricane conditions are
occurring over the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and will spread
westward over portions of Puerto Rico later today.  Hurricane
conditions are expected to begin within the hurricane warning area
in the Dominican Republic and and Haiti on Thursday, with tropical
storm conditions beginning tonight. Hurricane conditions are
expected in the warning area in the southeastern Bahamas and the
Turks and Caicos Islands beginning Thursday night.

Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are possible within the
watch area in the central Bahamas and Cuba by Friday.

RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce the following rain
accumulations through Saturday:

Northern Leeward Islands...8 to 12 inches, isolated 20 inches
Northeast Puerto Rico and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands...4 to
10 inches, isolated 15 inches
Southwest Puerto Rico, the southern Leeward Islands, and Saint
Croix...2 to 4 inches
Southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos...8 to 12 inches, isolated 20
inches
Northern Dominican Republic, northern Haiti, eastern and central
Cuba...4 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches
Southwest Haiti...1 to 4 inches

In all areas this rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods
and mudslides.

SURF:  Swells generated by Irma will affect the northern Leeward
Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the southeastern Bahamas,
the Turks and Caicos Islands, the northern coast of the Dominican
Republic, and portions of the southeast coast of the United States
during the next several days. These swells are likely to cause
life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  Please consult
products from your local weather office.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 200 PM AST.
Next complete advisory at 500 PM AST.

$$
Forecaster Brown

00
WTNT31 KNHC 051159
TCPAT1

BULLETIN
Hurricane Irma Special Advisory Number  25
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL112017
800 AM AST Tue Sep 05 2017

...IRMA BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE...
...PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION IN THE HURRICANE
WARNING AREA...


SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...16.7N 57.7W
ABOUT 270 MI...440 KM E OF ANTIGUA
ABOUT 280 MI...445 KM ESE OF BARBUDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH...280 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...929 MB...27.44 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Hurricane
Watch from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti and a
Tropical Storm Watch from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis
* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
* British Virgin Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Guadeloupe
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with
Haiti

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Guadeloupe
* Dominica

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued
36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-
force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous. In this case, for some of easternmost islands, the
hurricane conditions are expected within the next 24 hours.
Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to
completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area in this case within 36
hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, along with Haiti,
the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cuba, and the southeastern and central
Bahamas should monitor the progress of Irma.

For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside
the United States, please monitor products issued by your national
meteorological service.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the distinct eye center of Hurricane Irma
was located near latitude 16.7 North, longitude 57.7 West. Irma is
moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general
motion is expected to continue today, followed by a turn toward the
west-northwest tonight. On the forecast track, the dangerous core of
Irma will move near or over portions of the northern Leeward Islands
tonight and early Wednesday.

Reports from NOAA and U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft
indicate Irma continues to strengthen and maximum sustained winds
have increased to near 175 mph (280 km/h) with higher gusts.  Irma
is an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity are likely
during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a
powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles
(220 km).

The latest estimated minimum central pressure from aircraft data is
929 mb (27.44 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large
breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet
above normal tide levels along the coasts of the extreme northern
Leeward Islands within the hurricane warning area near and to the
north of the center of Irma.  Near the coast, the surge will be
accompanied by large and destructive waves.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause
normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters
moving inland from the shoreline.  The water is expected to reach
the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the
time of high tide...

British and U.S. Virgin Islands except St. Croix...7 to 11 ft
Northern coast of Puerto Rico...2 to 4 ft
Southern coast of Puerto Rico and St. Croix...1 to 2 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane
warning area in the Leeward Islands by tonight, with tropical storm
conditions beginning later today. Tropical storm conditions are
expected within the tropical storm warning area where hurricane
conditions are also possible. Hurricane conditions are expected
to begin within the hurricane warning area in the British and U.S.
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday, with tropical storm
conditions beginning tonight. Hurricane and tropical storm
conditions are possible within the watch area in the Dominican
Republic by early Thursday.

RAINFALL:  Irma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations
of 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches across
the northern Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands,
and Puerto Rico.  These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening
flash floods and mudslides.

SURF:  Swells generated by Irma will affect the northern Leeward
Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands
during the next several days.  These swells are likely to cause
life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult
products from your local weather office.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST.
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST.

$$
Forecaster Brown

===============================

    000 WTNT31 KNHC 040854 TCPAT1 BULLETIN Hurricane Irma Advisory Number 20 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017 500 AM AST Mon Sep 04 2017 ...TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE LEEWARD ISLANDS LATE TUESDAY... SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...16.9N 52.3W ABOUT 625 MI...1010 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WSW OR 255 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...961 MB...28.38 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis * Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten * Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Interests in the remainder of the Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic should monitor the progress of Irma. Additional hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings will likely be required for portions of this area later today. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 16.9 North, longitude 52.3 West. Irma is moving toward the west-southwest near 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn toward the west is expected later today, followed by a west-northwestward turn late Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Irma will move closer to the Leeward Islands through Tuesday and then be near the northern Leeward Islands Tuesday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Irma is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some strengthening is forecast through Tuesday night. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 961 mb (28.38 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by Tuesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Tuesday. SURF: Swells generated by Irma will begin affecting the northern Leeward Islands today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST. Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST. $$ Forecaster Berg

========================================

WTNT31 KNHC 031450 TCPAT1 BULLETIN Hurricane Irma Advisory Number 17 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017 1100 AM AST Sun Sep 03 2017 ...CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE IRMA MOVING WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD... ...INTERESTS IN THE LEEWARD ISLANDS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF IRMA... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...17.7N 48.4W ABOUT 885 MI...1420 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WSW OR 255 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...969 MB...28.62 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Irma. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches will likely be required for portions of these islands later today or tonight. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Irma was located near latitude 17.7 North, longitude 48.4 West. Irma is moving toward the west-southwest near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this course at a slightly slower forward speed is expected through tonight. A turn toward the west is forecast on Monday. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Irma is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 969 mb (28.62 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- None NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next complete advisory at 500 PM AST.

Brian Todd "Briar" Collins was electrocuted to death when the boom of his bucket truck contacted a high voltage power line in Loyall, KY

Loyall, KY

 A local businessman died Wednesday while working.

According to a release from Harlan County Coroner Philip Bianchi, he is conducting a death investigating concerning an electrocution that occurred on Good Neighbor Road in Loyall.

The death occurred when a tree trimmer was gaining access to tree limbs and the boom of his bucket truck contacted a high voltage power line, Bianchi stated. Brian Todd Collins, 46, owner of Collins Tree Service, was pronounced dead at the scene by Bianchi.


Loyall Police Chief Mike Lunsford is in charge of the investigation. Others assisting at the scene were members of the Harlan and Loyall Fire Departments, LifeCare Ambulance, Harlan County Sheriff’s Office and officials with Kentucky Utilities







Brian Todd "Briar" Collins


THREE POINT, KY — Brian Todd "Briar" Collins 46, of Three Point, KY went home (against his will; life sucks sometimes) to be with the Lord Wednesday, August 30, 2017. He was the owner & operator of Collins Tree Service and had been a coal miner for 25 years. He had accepted the Lord as his Savior in the year of 2004. Todd was a member of the Cawood Pentecostal Holiness Church where he had won many souls for the Lord by sharing his testimony of where the Lord had brought him. He went weekly to minister at the Harlan County Detention Center.

His grandparents, Tyler & Birdie Collins and John T. Ramsey and his father-in-law, Roger Posey precede him in death.

Five reckless people (including the reckless illegal driver Corravion Murphy, 15, Jaquerious Hegler, Marshawn Williams, 15, and Deztanee Cobb, 17) are dead after their speeding Dodge Charger left the road, hit trees and burst into flames in Kalamazoo Township, MI

This idiot black man, Corravion Murphy, did not even have a driver's license and yet he was driving at 100 mph! Thank god he killed himself in the crash. Four other black trash were also taken out, but they will reproduce more of the same trash anyway. Hopefully the tree was not damaged too bad.

Deztanee Cobb, 17, dead in the fiery crash




COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Four of the five people who were killed in a fiery crash early Saturday morning just east of Kalamazoo have been identified.

The driver, 15-year-old Corravion Murphy — who due to his age did not yet have a driver’s license — and a passenger, Jaquerious Hegler, were identified by Corravion’s mother.

Late Sunday afternoon, Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas confirmed two other passengers as Deztanee Cobb, 17, and Marshawn Williams, 15. The fifth victim has not yet been identified.

The crash happened around 12:43 a.m. Saturday on E. Main Street, east of Sprinkle Road in Comstock Township.

Kalamazoo Township police say an officer parked on Fenimore Avenue near the E. Main Street intersection watched as a car going an estimated 100 mph passed him heading east on Main Street. The officer turned on his lights and sirens and attempted to catch up to the car, but lost sight of it shortly after.



==========================



According to dashcam video released shortly after the crash, the car passed the officer parked on Fenimore Avenue at 12:42 a.m. The video’s timestamp reads an hour earlier, at 11:42 p.m.; however, investigators say it was an hour behind for some reason.

By the time the officer pulled on to E. Main Street and turned on his lights and siren, the car was already out of sight. Seven seconds after initiating his siren, the officer is heard on the video saying, “I’m trying to catch up to it.”

About 15 seconds after the radio communication, he turned off the lights and siren and continued eastbound. Undersheriff Matyas told 24 Hour News 8 the officer continued given the dangerous speed the car was traveling.

The officer arrived at the intersection of Sprinkle Rd. and E. Main St. at 12:43 a.m., where dashcam video shows the car had already crashed and was on fire.

The distance between where the car past the officer and where it crashed is approximately 1.5 miles. Matyas told 24 Hour News 8 that all five victims were killed on impact.

Sunday night, 24 Hour News 8 spoke with Corravion Murphy’s girlfriend, Kamarey Williams, who said they’d been dating more than a year. She said Corravion was taking driver’s education and wasn’t sure what caused the crash or why he was driving so fast.

Kamarey Williams with her late boyfriend, Corravion Williams (undated photo)

She believes it may have been peer pressure.

“Think about him every day,” she said. “It’s not something that’s going to ever go away. He’s going to forever be in my heart. Every day and I’m going to keep pushing to make him proud because I know he would want me to do be happy and proud and doing what I’m supposed to do.”

24 Hour News 8 also spoke with the mother of Deztanee Cobb on Sunday.

Tracey Taylor said her daughter was entering her senior year and was dual-enrolled at Kalamazoo Central High School and Kalamazoo Community College taking AP classes. Cobb also had two varsity letters in swimming and played softball, but couldn’t play sports her senior year due to an injury.

Taylor said Cobb just lost two friends who committed suicide last year and her sister, who died from childhood diabetes, adding that her daughter went to counseling to get through that tough year and that she wanted to be a child psychologist. Deztanee Cobb (undated photo)

Taylor also said Cobb, who she described as “loyal, loving and empathetic,” mentioned she was going to a party Friday night but it wasn’t alarmed when her daughter didn’t come home because she thought she was just staying a friend’s house overnight.

Funeral arrangements for the victims have not yet been announced.

A Kalamazoo Public Schools spokesperson told 24 Hour News 8 grief counselors will be made available as needed.



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Authorities begin identifying victims in fiery crash
by FOX 17 News, Updated September 4, 2017





KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Michigan authorities are beginning to release the identities of the five people killed in a fiery, high-speed crash in Kalamazoo Township.

Township police said in a news release Saturday that the five victims were riding in a Dodge Charger traveling about 100 mph when it crashed into a tree and burst into flames about 1 a.m. Saturday.

In an updated release from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, two of the victims were identified as Marshawn Williams, 15, and Deztanee Cobb, 17. It is expected that the remaining victims will be identified later this week.

Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas says he can’t speculate on the victims’ ages or genders because the scene is so “gruesome.”

A local pastor says the five victims are all believed to be teenagers, including one he had mentored.

An officer who spotted the speeding car turned on his lights and sirens, but quickly ended his pursuit because of safety concerns due to the car’s speed.

He spotted the crashed, burning car along a roadside shortly afterward.

A Michigan pastor says the victims are believed to have all been teenagers.

Strick Strickland is pastor of the Second Baptist Church and leader of the Kalamazoo area NAACP office. He says it’s his understanding that all the occupants of the car that crashed early Saturday were teens.

Police have not identified the five victims.

Strickland says he mentored one of them and he was a teen who attended an alternative school and played football.

He called the deadly crash “extremely tragic” and difficult to comprehend.



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5 dead in high-speed fiery crash in Kalamazoo County, MI

Updated on September 2, 2017
 By Mickey Ciokajlo


KALAMAZOO, MI -- Five people are dead after a speeding car left the road, hit trees and burst into flames, police said.

The crash occurred shortly before 1 a.m. near the intersection of Sprinkle Road and East Main Street in Kalamazoo Township, according to a release from township police.

As of 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, East Main Street east of Sprinkle Road remained closed, about six hours after the crash.

A township police officer saw the vehicle, a blue Dodge Charger, at 12:43 a.m. going about 100 mph in the 2000 block of East Main Street, police said. The officer radioed in the information and turned on his lights and sirens.

The officer lost sight of the Charger after it went around the curve near Humphrey Street.

"Accordingly, within a few blocks, the officer ceased his efforts to stop the Charger by shutting off his lights and siren and slowing his patrol car," the release says. "Concerned about the Charger's excessive speed, the officer continued to drive east on East Main. When he reached Sprinkle Road, he saw what appeared to be a fire on the north side of East Main, east of Sprinkle. The officer discovered the Charger had crashed into trees along the road was fully engulfed in fire."

Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas told MLive early Saturday morning that five people were confirmed dead in the vehicle.

"There's a rumor going around there was a chase," Matyas said. "There was no chase."

Matyas said authorities have not yet identified the five people.

"We don't know who these people are yet who were in the car," Matyas said. "We have not got positive identification on them yet."

The intersection of Sprinkle Road and East Main Street is closed until at least 8 a.m., and police ask motorists to avoid the area.

Most likely black trash were taken out on their own.  These "people" must have been drunk or on drugs as these types of high-speed crashes caused in the early a.m. hours by drunks or druggies.  Society will not miss these idiots, as we have many law-abiding citizens who want to live a good peaceful life without alcohol or drugs.

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COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputies say five people were killed in a fiery crash early Saturday morning.

It happened around 12:43 a.m. on East Main Street, east of Sprinkle Road.

Kalamazoo Township police say an officer parked on Fenimore Avenue near the Main Street intersection watched as a car going an estimated 100 mph passed him heading east on Main St.. The officer turned on his lights and sirens and attempted to catch up to the car, but lost sight of it shortly after.

***WARNING: The dashcam video of the crash may be disturbing to some viewers***

According to dashcam video released shortly after the crash, the car passed the officer parked on Fenimore Ave. at 12:42 a.m. The video’s timestamp reads an hour earlier, at 11:42 p.m.; however, investigators say it was an hour behind for some reason.

By the time the officer pulled on to Main St. and turned on his lights and siren, the car was already out of sight. Seven seconds after initiating his siren, the officer is heard on the video saying, “I’m trying to catch up to it.”

About 15 seconds after the radio communication, he turned off the lights and siren and continued eastbound. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas told 24 Hour News 8 the officer continued given the dangerous speed the car was traveling.

The officer arrived at the intersection of N. Sprinkle Rd. and E. Main St. at 12:43 a.m., where dashcam video shows the car had already crashed and was on fire.

The distance between where the car passed the officer and where it crashed is approximately 1.5 miles.

Undersheriff Paul Matyas tells 24 Hour News 8 that all five people in the vehicle were killed on impact. He said they are unlikely to have positive identification “for some time” due to the victims being engulfed by the fire, but they believe they know the identity of one of them. Their names will not be released until they are positively identified.

A spokesman for Kalamazoo Public Schools released a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened by last night’s tragedy. Law enforcement indicates that victims have not been positively identified. We will have grief counselors as necessary in school.”

Matyas said deputies are aware of several posts on social media about possible victims, and the sheriff’s office has been contacted by about 20 families who believe the victims may be one of their loved ones.
East Main Street was closed between Sprinkle Road and 26th Street as the scene was investigation, but reopened around 8:30.

The crash remains under investigation by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office.




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Five people were killed Saturday morning in Kalamazoo Township when a speeding vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree, catching fire.

According to a release from the township's police department, an on-duty officer spotted a blue Dodge Charger traveling at an estimated 100 m.p.h. along East Main Street at 12:43 a.m.

The officer lost sight of the fleeing vehicle when it went around a curve near Humphrey Street. When officers turned the same curve, the Charger was gone. Police ceased efforts to stop the vehicle by turning off the cruiser's lights and sirens.

The officer soon discovered the vehicle fully engulfed in flames on East Main near Sprinkle Road. The incident was captured on dashcam and can be viewed above.

In an interview with WOOD TV8, Undersheriff Paul Matyas reported that five people were killed on impact. One of the victims has been identified, but their name has not been released.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation.