POSTAL TRUCK RUNS RED LIGHT AND COLLIDES WITH CAR IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. MOTHER, CHILD INJURED.

MARCH 4, 2015

HOUSTON, TEXAS

A mother and child were injured in a two-vehicle accident after a post office box truck ran a red light along the Gulf Freeway Wednesday morning.

According to the Houston Police Department, it happened around 7 a.m. at the intersection of the southbound feeder road and Park Place.

Police said the truck ran the red light and struck the mother's vehicle. After the Houston Fire Department, extricated at least one of the victims from the vehicle, both were transported to a local hospital.

The mother suffered serious injuries, while the child had minor injuries, police said.

ISP Responds to More Than 200 Calls for Service from Midnight Thru 8:00 p.m. on March 4th, Including One Fatal Crash. Please be patient to avoid becoming a patient.

Indiana – Across central and southern Indiana, from Midnight March 4^th on through 8 p.m., the Indiana State Police responded to reports of 99 Property Damage and 24 Personal Injury crashes, plus response to 116 vehicles that slid off the road and an additional 158 responses to assist motorists with traffic/weather related problems. 

Unfortunately, there has also been one reported fatality crash that occurred in Hendricks County, around 7:20 this morning, at State Road 59 and County Road 200 North.

In southern Indiana, on I-64 in Vanderburgh County, the west bound lanes are closed due to different crash scenes at the 12 and 18 mile markers.  It is expected the lanes will be closed through 11:00 p.m. this evening.

Road conditions in central Indiana range from isolated slick spots, with deteriorating conditions farther south to very treacherous conditions in the southern most portions of Indiana.

Hoosiers should carefully consider if travel is necessary, especially when roads are snow covered, icy and hazardous. If travel is necessary, the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Transportation and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security are encouraging motorists to use a variety of resources to make an informed decision. 

One source is the Indiana County Travel Advisory Map. It's updated with travel information determined by county emergency management agencies and describes the conditions for a travel warning, watch, advisory and caution. 
The map is available online at http://www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory/  or on a mobile device by downloading the Indiana Travel Advisory app for iPhone (https://appsto.re/us/QHVw4.i) in the App Store, and Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.in.traveladvisory) in the Google Play Store.
Keep an eye on road conditions and closures across the state using the Indiana Department of Transportation's TrafficWise service at trafficwise.in.gov.
When roads are ice covered, the only difference between two wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles is how many of your tires are sliding on the ice.

Please be patient to avoid becoming a patient.

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES HAZARDOUS TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

Wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow expected Wednesday night through Thursday may create hazardous travel conditions for Thursday AM and PM commutes

Heaviest snow expected Thursday morning; Total of 4-8 inches expected to fall by Thursday afternoon

March 4 2015 — The New York City Office of Emergency Management today issued a hazardous travel advisory for Thursday, March 5, 2015. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens and a Winter Storm Watch for Manhattan and the Bronx from 7:00PM Wednesday evening through 7:00PM Thursday evening, March 5, 2015. Rain Wednesday evening will mix with or change to sleet and snow around midnight. The heaviest snow is expected early Thursday morning, with 2 to 4 inches of snow accumulation expected by the Thursday morning rush. The snow will taper off Thursday afternoon. A total of 4 to 8 inches of snow accumulation is expected with this event. High temperatures on Thursday are expected to be near 22 degrees, with wind chill values between 10 and 20 degrees. By Thursday evening, wind chill values will plummet to as low as 5 degrees below zero. New Yorkers are asked to use mass transit where possible. If you have to drive, exercise caution and allow for additional travel time during the Thursday morning and evening commutes, as roads will be dangerous due to the weather conditions.
Treating Icy Roadways and Snow PreparationThe NYC Department of Sanitation has issued a snow alert beginning 11:00PM Wednesday, March 4, 2015, and is pre-deploying 500 salt spreaders across the five boroughs to treat arterial highways, bus routes, school streets, hilly roads, etc. In addition, DSNY will have 1,600 plows available to address plowing needs once there are more than 2 inches of accumulation. PlowNYC will be available at NYC.gov/severeweather to track the progress of City plows. During major snow clearing operations, trash and recycling pickups will be either suspended or delayed.
The Department of Transportation will deploy anti-icing units to each of the East River bridges and is pre-treating pedestrian overpasses and step streets.
Parking
Alternate Side Parking rules are suspended Thursday, March 5, 2015 for Purim.
Safety Tips

• Drive slowly. Posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions. Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
• Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible; these roadways will be cleared first.
• Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they do not stop quicker than other vehicles.
• Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck in snow.
• If you get stuck on the road, stay with your car and contact a towing company.
• Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping.
• Have a heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.
• Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.
• Prolonged exposure to extreme cold weather can be dangerous. If you suspect a person is suffering from frostbite or hypothermia, call 911 to get medical help. While waiting for assistance, help the person by getting them to a warm place if possible, removing any damp clothing and covering them with warm blankets.
• When outdoors, wear warm clothing and cover exposed skin. Use multiple layers to maintain warmth.
• Wear a hat, hood, or scarf, as most heat is lost through the head.
• Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.
• Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it.
• Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don't overdo it.
• Workers in construction and utilities, and others who spend a lot of time outdoors are at risk for cold-related disorders. Employers should implement safe work practices, provide appropriate protective equipment, and train workers on health effects of cold weather, proper prevention techniques, and treatment of cold-related disorders.

More Information
New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City's free emergency notification system, for weather, traffic, and transportation updates. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/notifynyc, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter. For more helpful winter weather tips, view NYC Emergency Management's winter weather video, visit NYC.gov/EmergencyManagement.

‘Lysblink Seaways’ Under Tow to Greenock, Scotland

By Mike Schuler On March 4, 2015

 

The MV Lysblink Seaways aground on February 18, 2015. Photo: RNLI

The tow of the stricken MV Lysblink Seaways commenced Wednesday afternoon exactly two weeks after the ship ran aground along with western coast of Scotland.

The passage plan was approved by Hugh Shay, Secretary of State’s representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention. The voyage covers 150 nautical miles from Scallastle Bay in the Sound of Mull to the Inchgreen ship repair facility in Greenock, Scotland, located on the Firth of Clyde.

“The tow will, where possible, take advantage of sheltered waters and will move through the Sound of Mull, Firth of Lorn, Sound of Jura and the North Channel before entering the Firth of Clyde,” said Shaw after approving the plan.

The MV Lysblink Seaways is being towed by the lead tug ‘Luca’, while the tug tug ‘Afon Menai’ is attached to the stern.

A Svitzer Salvage team remains onboard the vessel and will remain for the duration of the tow.

The tow was expected to commence Wednesday at 1300 local time, weather permitting. AIS data from MarineTraffic.com shows the Lysblink Seaways underway as of 1700 GMT.

The HM Coastguard vessel MCA Hunter is expected to provide safety cover between Scallastle Bay and the Firth of Lorn, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency said. A temporary exclusion zone in Scallastle Bay, where the ship had been anchored, has been lifted, but another will be put into place until she enters the Sound of Jura, the MCA said.

The DFDS cargo ship MV Lysblink Seaways ran aground in Kilchoan, located on Scotland’s Ardnamurchan Peninsula, on February 18, causing the ship to leak an unspecified amount of oil. The vessel refloated about a day later and was towed to nearby anchorage, where the Svitzer Salvage team worked to remove all fuel oil from the vessel.

A Scottish Environment Group continues to monitor the situation.

MV Maersk Garonne Departs Fremantle After Grounding

By Mike Schuler On March 4, 2015

 

Maersk Garonne file photo (c) MarineTraffic/tania dottore

The MV Maersk Garonne departed Fremantle Inner Harbour Tuesday after an inspection of the vessel found no significant damage from Saturday’s grounding.

An initial inspection by divers at a temporary anchorage in Gage Roads found no significant damage to the vessel and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) gave approval for the ship to be moved. The ship was moved on Sunday afternoon to Berth 8 on North Quay late for cargo unloading. The vessel departed from Fremantle on Tuesday morning for the Port of Melbourne, the Fremantle Ports Authority said.

The ship ran aground off South Mole as it entered Fremantle’s Inner Harbour under pilotage on Saturday at approximately 5:00 a.m. The vessel was pulled free from soft sand about 3 1/2 hours later.

According to statement from an AMSA spokesman obtained by the website IHS Maritime 360, engine failure has been ruled out as a possible cause of the incident.

The grounding is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.