MEC&F Expert Engineers

Friday, November 24, 2017

Construction worker Curtis Duane Hollingshead, 33, from Davison, MI, with Ric-Man Construction Company operating a backhoe has died a 400-pound, 12-inch water main valve disconnected from the water main, causing the hole Hollingshead was in to rapidly fill with water and trap him to death in Burton, Michigan

33-year old construction worker Curtis Duane Hollingshead, 33, from Davison, MI, with Ric-Man Construction Company operating a backhoe has died





















Police identify man killed in Burton construction accident 


November 22, 2017
By Jessica Royce, Digital producer

BURTON, MI (WNEM) -


Police have identified the man who died after being pulled from a water-filled hole.

Investigators said Curtis Duane Hollingshead, 33, from Davison, died on Nov. 21 after the incident on N. Belsay Road and E. Potter Road.

At 10:48 a.m., Burton police and Burton firefighters were called to the location for reports of a man trapped underwater.

Investigators said it appears a 400-pound, 12-inch water main valve disconnected from the water main, causing the hole Hollingshead was in to rapidly fill with water and trap him.

The Burton Fire Department offered life jackets and a long pole with a hook to the work crew who seemed to know where their coworker could be underwater. Hollingshead was found and pulled up by his belt using the long pole, the fire chief said.

First responders rushed him to the hospital and he died that afternoon, Burton Police Det. Don Schreiber said.

Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright said the company Hollingshead worked for, Ric-Man Construction, is a private contractor doing drain work for the county.

Burton Police report that the water main was not under pressure, but the 42” water line was full of water.

Michigan Laborers' have released a statement on the loss.


“Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and his brothers and sisters on the jobsite. Times like this give us pause and remind us to be thankful of what we have,” said Geno Alessandrini, Business Manager for the Michigan Laborers’ District Council. “Even with top-notch training and education, accidents still happen on the jobsite because construction is a dangerous business. We’ll be doing everything we can to support the family of our union brother during this trying time.”


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BURTON, Mich. (AP) — Police say a 33-year-old Flint-area man was critically injured after being trapped underwater for about 20 minutes when a water main burst during construction work.

Burton Police Chief Tom Osterholzer tells The Flint Journal the man had no pulse when he was taken to a hospital Tuesday morning but medical personnel were able to re-establish a heartbeat.

Osterholzer says other workers were able to snag the submerged man with a pole and pull him from the water.

The worker's name was not immediately released.

Osterholzer says the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent representatives to the scene.



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



UPDATE: Burton Police have confirmed the 33-year-old victim from Davison has died. His family has been notified, but his identity is expected to be released Wednesday.

BURTON, Mich. - A construction worker with Ric-Man Construction Company is fighting for his life after police say he fell into a pit filled with rushing water during a day on the job.

It happened Tuesday morning in Burton at the intersection of North Belsay and East Potter Roads.


Burton Police Chief Tom Osterholzer says it’s always a tragedy when something like this happens.

According to police, the 33 year- old construction worker from Davison was using a backhoe when a water cap blew and knocked him into the hole.


Police say he was pinned down in the hole that was rapidly filling with water.


The man was under water for 20 minutes before he was rescued.

Police believe it was a water main break.

Three water mains actually intersect at that same point.

Right now, they are trying to get this area pumped out investigators can get a better idea of what happened.

Police are not releasing his name at this time.

"This isn't clear water, this is basically brown mud, sludge that he was trapped in the bottom of. The dive team was in route, workers were able to snag him with a pole and retrieve him from the bottom of the hole," said Osterholzer.

The police chief told me to tell people to avoid this area because they are still investigating and it will most likely be closed for quite some time.





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November 21, 2017

BURTON, Mich. -




A construction worker was taken to an area hospital after a water rescue on the corner of North Belsay and Potter Roads in Burton.

The incident took place around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21.


According to police, a construction worker was using a backhoe when a water cap blew and knocking him into the water.


The roads are closed as officials investigate the incident.

He was rescued from the water after 10 minutes and taken to an area hospital. No word on the condition of the construction worker at this time.



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Mancini Companies invites you to explore the various fields of business in which it is involved. Ric-Man Construction, Inc. excels in heavy underground and tunnel construction and delivers nothing but quality and expertise. Mancini Enterprises and Mancini Development specialize in industrial, commercial and residential development throughout the states of Michigan and Florida. Overall, Mancini Companies focuses on teamwork and exceptional service among the rest.

Mission Statement – Ric-Man Construction, Inc.
With over 50 years of heavy underground construction experience, Ric-Man Construction, Inc. is committed to improving infrastructure systems throughout the United States by adhering to its tradition of excellence and innovation.  With a focus on safety and its employees, Ric-Man Construction, Inc. has positioned itself as a leader in the industry and a reliable contractor to carry out a project until completion.

Pilot Herman E. Steele killed after his recently bought 1968 Mooney M.20C Ranger plane crashed inside Camp Blanding in Clay County, Florida.














A Tennessee man has been confirmed as the pilot who died Thursday afternoon when his private plane crashed at the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center on Florida 16 just east of Starke, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Herman E. Steele was the only person on board the 1968 Mooney M20C Ranger aircraft when it crashed about 3:15 p.m. between buildings and parking areas on the eastern side of Kingsley Lake in the center of the 73,000-acre National Guard training site, Sgt. Kevin Smith said.

Steele, whose age was not available, was flying the four-seat, single-engine back to Tennessee when the crash occurred, Smith said. He believes Steele may also have a residence in the Jacksonville area. He apparently decided to stop first at Cecil Airport to visit a family member but then radioed Jacksonville International Airport’s tower to report a problem. The Jacksonville tower’s air traffic controllers tried to contact him again, but Steele never responded, Smith said.

The Federal Aviation Administration handled the initial investigation into the crash, but the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on scene late Friday morning to determine its probable cause, Smith said.

==================
Pilot Herman E. Steele killed after his recently bought Mooney M.20C Ranger plane crashed inside Camp Blanding in Clay County, Florida.

Private plane goes down in deadly crash in Camp Blanding
Pilot killed, emergency officials say; FAA investigating
By Erik Avanier - Reporter 

November 24, 2017

 
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. - A single-engine plane went down Thursday afternoon inside Camp Blanding, authorities said.

Only the pilot was on board, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman.

Clay County emergency operations officials said the pilot was killed.

FAA officials said they were notified that a Mooney M20 aircraft went down at Camp Blanding in Clay County about 3:15 p.m. Thursday. Clay County deputies said it was a private plane, not a military aircraft.

Camp Blanding is off State Road 16 near Kingsley Lake.


Local authorities will release the name of the pilot once family has been notified, and the FAA will release the aircraft registration after that, the spokeswoman said.

It is unclear what caused the plane to crash, but investigators are not overlooking weather conditions as a potential factor because it was raining and there may have been limited visibility.

News4Jax spoke with aviation expert Randy Reep about flying in the certain weather conditions.

"Any event that occurs in bad weather makes that event more difficult," Reep said. "You can’t fly in reference to the ground and (the pilot) is having to rely on his sensations to maneuver the airplane via instruments. It can very difficult, which is why the air traffic control system is designed the way it is."

Reep also mentioned that if the pilot was on a flight plan, there will be more evidence to collect because he would have been controlled through radio communications with the ground.

The FAA will investigate, and the National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the crash.

The Florida Highway Patrol is assisting in the investigation

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

Jacksonville, FL -

The Clay County Sheriff's Office is assisting, after a deadly plane crash on Camp Blanding property.

A sheriff's office spokesperson tells WOKV, they received a call from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority about a possible plane in distress Thursday afternoon. They had apparently lost contact with this plane, with the last known coordinates leading them to the area of Camp Blanding, where the crashed plane was found.


Clay County deputies say the plane involved was a private, single-engine aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Authority is investigating the crash and has released the following statement:

“A Mooney MO20 aircraft went down at Camp Blanding in Clay County, FL at about 3:15 pm today. Only the pilot was on board, local authorities will release the name and condition, the FAA will release the aircraft registration after that. The FAA will investigate, and the National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the accident.”


We're told the FAA will be taking over the investigation.





BLUE AND BEIGE FLYS GREAT MANUAL FLAPS AND GEAR T-BAR

Engine(s):
0=360 180 HP

Prop Specs:
3 BLADE HERTZELL


Avionics


COM#1 GARMIN GNC420 GPS COM ENROUTE APCH CERTIFIED GPS


XPONDER KT76


COM#2 KX155 ILS GLIDE SLOPE


Interior


SIX


Exterior


SEVEN


Remarks


WILL SELL WITH FRESH ANNUAL



 

Herman Steele



 TN 




Date: 23-NOV-2017
Time: 15:15
Type:
Mooney M20C Ranger
Owner/operator: Private
Registration: N6894N
C/n / msn: 680164
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Camp Blanding, Clay County, FL - United States of America
Phase: Approach
Nature: Unknown
Departure airport: Ocala/Taylor Field Int’l (KOCF)
Destination airport: Cecil (KVQQ)
Narrative:
The aircraft impacted the terrain at Camp Blanding in Clay County, Florida. The airplane sustained unreported damage and the sole pilot onboard was fatally injured.

Sources:
http://www.wokv.com/news/local/fatal-plane-crash-confirmed-camp-blanding-faa-investigating/Rrlx25CihQnZ54PkMg1x4J/
https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/clay-county/aircraft-reported-down-at-camp-blanding
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/clay-county-agencies-respond-to-fatal-plane-crash/652676845
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N6894N
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N6894N



Reg:   N6894N
Manu:   MOONEY
Type:   M20C
ICAO:   M20P
CN:   680164
Hex:   A92797
Old Owner:  FIRST COAST FLIGHT SERVICE INC
New Owner:  STEELE HERMAN E
Date Reg:  20170518
Status:   Valid Registration
 
Reg:   N6894N
Manu:   MOONEY
Type:   M20C
ICAO:   M20P
CN:   680164
Hex:   A92797
Owner:   STEELE HERMAN E
Old Address:  2202 BLUE HERON COVE DR, ORANGE PARK, FL, 320034931, US
New Address:  8396 MOUNT JOY RD, MOUNT PLEASANT, TN, 384743217, US
Date Reg:  20170518
Status:   Valid Registration



Serial Number 680164 Status Valid
Manufacturer Name MOONEY Certificate Issue Date 05/18/2017
Model M20C Expiration Date 05/31/2020
Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Single-Engine Type Engine Reciprocating
Pending Number Change None Dealer No
Date Change Authorized None Mode S Code (base 8 / oct) 52223627
MFR Year 1968 Mode S Code (base 16 / hex) A92797
Type Registration Individual Fractional Owner NO


Registered Owner

Name STEELE HERMAN E
Street 8396 MOUNT JOY RD
City MOUNT PLEASANT State TENNESSEE
County MAURY Zip Code 38474-3217
Country UNITED STATES

Airworthiness


Engine Manufacturer LYCOMING Classification Standard
Engine Model O&VO-360 SER Category Normal
A/W Date 06/28/1968

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has suspended nine more medical providers from participating in California’s workers’ compensation system due to fraud or other criminal actions



California's DWC Suspends Nine Medical Providers for Fraud
The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has suspended nine more medical providers from participating in California’s workers’ compensation system, bringing the total number of providers suspended this year to 94. The providers were suspended for fraud or other criminal actions.

DWC Administrative Director George Parisotto issued suspension orders against the following providers:

·       Sathish Narayanappa Babu of Bolingbrook, Illinois, physician, was convicted on federal charges of Medicare fraud and of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances in February 2015. The Medical Board of California has revoked his medical license.
·        
Uche Chukwudi of Gardena, physician, was indicted in 2013 in federal court on felony conspiracy and health care fraud charges for defrauding Medicare in a scheme involving durable medical equipment (DME) provider Adeline Ekwebelem, Uche Chukwudi, Charles Okoye and others. He failed to appear at pre-trial proceedings and was declared a fugitive. The Medical Board of California revoked his license in 2017.

·       Charles Ikechukwu Okoye of Carson, physician, was convicted in federal court for conspiracy to commit health care fraud for defrauding Medicare in a scheme involving DME provider Adeline Ekwebelem, Uche Chukwudi and others in 2014. Okoye surrendered his physician’s and surgeon’s certificate in 2015.
 
·       Adeline Ekwebelem of Gardena, DME provider who worked with Uche Chukwudi, Charles Okoye and others, was convicted in federal court on multiple counts of health care fraud, conspiracy and illegal kickbacks for patient referrals in 2014.

·       Victoria Kim of Los Angeles, physician, pled guilty in federal court on a felony charge of receiving illegal kickbacks for home health care referrals. The Medical Board of California revoked her medical license in 2016.
·       Daria Renee Million of Corona, registered nurse, pled guilty in Riverside County in May 2015 to DUI and in December 2015 to misdemeanor child endangerment. The California Board of Registered Nursing revoked her license in 2016. 
·        
The following providers participated in an illegal kickback scheme to issue medically-unnecessary DME prescriptions to Medicare patients:

o   Victoria Onyeabor of Ontario, DME provider and former owner of Fendih Medical Supplies Inc., was convicted in federal court for conspiracy to commit health care fraud in 2012 for submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. 
o   Godwin Onyeabor of Ontario, DME provider and corporate officer of Fendih Medical Supplies Inc., was convicted in federal court in 2013 for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks. 
o   Sri Jayantha Wijegunaratne of Anaheim Hills, physician, was convicted in federal court in 2013 for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks. His medical license was revoked in 2016.


AB 1244, which went into effect January 1, requires DWC’s Administrative Director to suspend any medical provider, physician or practitioner from participating in the workers’ compensation system in cases in which one or more of the following is true:

  • The provider has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud or abuse of the Medi-Cal or Medicare programs or the workers’ compensation system, fraud or abuse of a patient, or related types of misconduct;
  • The provider has been suspended due to fraud or abuse from the Medicare or Medicaid (including Medi-Cal) programs; or
  • The provider’s license or certificate to provide health care has been surrendered or revoked.
The Department of Industrial Relation’s (DIR’s) fraud prevention efforts are posted online, including frequently updated lists for physicians, practitioners, and providers who have been issued notices of suspension, and those who have been suspended pursuant to Labor Code §139.21(a)(1). The department recently added a new web page with information on lien consolidations and the Special Adjudication Unit.


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


MEDICAL BOARD RECORD—A 105496


DISCIPLINARY ACTIONSLicense renewed & current; Limits on practice

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ISSUED AN ORDER IN CASE NO. 12-01170(B)-MWF-6, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VS. UCHE CHUKWUDI. DR. CHUKWUDI IS PROHIBITED FROM SEEING, TREATING OR PRESCRIBING OR ORDERING SERVICES OR ITEMS FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS AND PROHIBITED FROM PRESCRIBING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING HYDROCODONE (VICODIN) AND CODEINE FOR ANY PATIENTS.—7/29/2014


OIG Fugitive: Uche Chukwudi

(Office of Inspector General—US Dept of Health & Human Services)
  • On December 19, 2013, Dr. Uche Chukwudi was indicted on charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Investigators believe that Dr. Chukwudi was involved in a scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare approximately $7.3 million for durable medical equipment (DME) that was never provided and was medically unnecessary.
  • Co-conspirator Adeline Ekwebelem owned Adelco Medical Distributors, a DME supplier in Gardena, California. According to the indictment, Ekwebelem paid marketers to solicit Medicare beneficiaries and offer them free DME, such as power wheelchairs, hospital beds, and orthotics, that they did not need. In return for the free products, the beneficiaries agreed to visit certain physicians, including Dr. Chukwudi, who would then use their beneficiary information to create false patient files and false statements in “face-to-face examination” forms. Dr. Chukwudi and other physicians then wrote prescriptions for the DME to be filled at Adelco.
  • Dr. Chukwudi referred more than 200 Medicare beneficiaries to Adelco for expensive, medically unnecessary DME, which enabled Ekwebelem to falsely bill Medicare for approximately $1.18 million. Dr. Chukwudi allegedly received cash kickbacks in return for writing the fraudulent prescriptions.
  • Ekwebelem was convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and paying kickbacks for the recruitment of Medicare beneficiaries. Dr. Charles Okoye, a physician who referred more than 200 beneficiaries to Adelco, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Both are awaiting sentencing. Patient recruiters Cindy Santana, Maritza Hernandez, and Romie Tucker, Jr., each pleaded guilty to illegal remunerations for health care referrals. Hernandez received 9 months in jail, while Santana and Tucker are awaiting sentencing.
  • Dr. Chukwudi fled the United States prior to his trial in September 2014. His whereabouts are currently unknown, and he remains a fugitive at-large.
CALIFORNIA—A Hawthorne woman responsible for more than $7 million in fraudulent Medicare billings, mostly for expensive power wheelchairs, was found guilty Friday of 16 federal charges stemming from the health-care fraud scheme.

Adeline Ekwebelem, 51, was convicted following a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald, who set a Dec. 15 sentencing hearing in federal court.

Ekwebelem was found guilty of conspiracy to commit health-care fraud, a dozen counts of health-care fraud and three counts of paying illegal kickbacks for health-care referrals, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

She is the fifth person convicted in relation to the scheme run out of her Gardena-based Adelco Medical Distributors Inc.

Evidence presented during the trial showed that Adelco billed Medicare for medically unnecessary equipment for beneficiaries who were often recruited off the street.

Ekwebelem paid illegal kickbacks to people known as marketers to recruit those beneficiaries. She also paid kickbacks to a handful of complicit doctors in exchange for fraudulent prescriptions for the wheelchairs.

Those doctors included Dr. Charles Okoye, who pleaded guilty last month, and Dr. Uche Chukwudi, who fled after being indicted and is a fugitive, prosecutors said.

Three of Adelco’s marketers — Romie Tucker, Cindy Santana and Maritza Hernandez — have also pleaded guilty to receiving kickbacks from Ekwebelem.
Ekwebelem submitted more than $7 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and received nearly $3.5 million for those claims. (LINK) — 9/19/2014