HORROR IN MICHIGAN: widespread damage occurred this weekend when flash flooding created an emergency situation in parts of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan

Photos show Michigan's U.P. devastation after flash flooding emergency
Posted on June 18, 2018 6:30 AM | Updated June 17, 2018 10:44 PM
By Tanda Gmiter | MLive

Photo courtesy of Christopher Edwards


HOUGHTON, MI - Law enforcement, state officials and local leaders are working together to assess the widespread damage that occurred this weekend when flash flooding created an emergency situation in parts of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Big chunks of roads were washed away, sinkholes opened up, and water, mud and debris covered countless roads. Especially hard-hit were the communities of Houghton, Hancock, Lake Linden and Dollar Bay.

Up to 7 inches of rain fell on some areas in a short amount of time early Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

In many places, residents were using boats instead of cars to get around on Sunday, though the U.S. Coast Guard warned people to stay out of recreational waterways because of the amount of storm debris in the water.

Michigan Tech University and Finlandia University remain closed today because of the flooding and road conditions.

The weather service shared photos of the damage, as did Houghton residents Christopher Edwards and Melissa Lubinski.

Lubinski's photos show how her neighborhood's Agate Street was largely washed away by the deluge.

Edwards' photos focus on the massive damage near the city's Portage Canal, part of the Keweenaw Waterway.


A sink hole on Cemetary Road


Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service and Richard Schreiner


Floodwaters cover Sharon Avenue in Houghton.
Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service.

Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service and Christopher Edwards


Flooding at the Portage Canal.


A vehicle outside a flooded area of campus at Michigan Tech University.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University

Photo by Christopher Edwards


Paradise Road at Pilgrim River.
Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service


Flooding outside the Michigan Tech University campus. The campus will remain closed on Monday.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University


MRMS Gage Corrected Radar Estimates of Rain in the Early Morning June 17th.
Graphic courtesy of the National Weather Service


Agate Street in Houghton


Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski


Royce Road in Ripley


Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service and Bruce Joyal


Damage on Agate Street.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski


An Agate Street intersection.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski


Agate Street in Houghton.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski


Pavement on Agate Street heaved and broke apart as the soil underneath washed away.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski


Utility lines are exposed under Agate Street in Houghton.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski

Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski


Fire hydrant buried by rubble at the bottom of Agate Street in Houghton.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Lubinski

CSX train carrying propane derails, sparking fire and forcing evacuation in Princeton, Indiana

The Whiteriver Hazelton Fire Department posted images of the scene on Facebook.

CSX train carrying propane derails, sparking fire and forcing evacuation in Princeton, Indiana

PRINCETON, Ind. -- A freight train derailed and several train cars caught fire in southwest Indiana, forcing the mandatory evacuation of nearby homes and businesses. The Gibson County Sheriff's Office says in a statement the train derailed Sunday evening about 2,100 feet west of a trailer park in Princeton, about 150 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

The department says several people reported an explosion.

No injuries have been reported.


Rail operator CSX says preliminary reports show a rail car leaked propane. It says the train had two locomotives, 89 loaded railcars and 9 empty railcars.

The derailment's cause is under investigation.

First responders went door-to-door to evacuate people within a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) radius of the derailment.

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PRINCETON, Ind. (WISH/WEHT) -- A train derailment and explosion in southern Indiana caused evacuations of residents within a mile radius on Sunday night.

Gibson County dispatch received several calls reporting a train derailment and an explosion near Old U.S. 41 and Caniff Trailer Court on Sunday around 7:19 p.m., according to a release from the Gibson County Sheriff's Office.

Emergency responders arrived in the area to find the derailed train and began door-to-door announcements of the mandatory evacuation. Residents displaced by the incident were invited to wait at the Gibson County Fairgrounds.

Viewers sent pictures of the explosion and derailed train cars to News 8's sister station, WEHT in Evansville.

As of 10:30 p.m., WEHT reported several cars were still on fire.

Multiple fatalities and injuries in Idaho, after a fiery crash on Interstate 84 in Boise Saturday night caused damage to the Cloverdale overpass, and prompted a long closure of eastbound lanes of the freeway.

Airmen stationed in Mountain Home believed to be involved in deadly I-84 crash
The seven-vehicle crash sent two people to the hospital and caused damage to the Cloverdale overpass, which is expected to remain closed until at least Monday morning.


Author: KTVB

Updated: 9:44 AM MDT June 18, 2018

BOISE, IDAHO -- Police say there were "multiple fatalities" in a fiery seven-vehicle crash that shut down Interstate 84 in Boise for hours on Sunday.

The stretch of interstate - between Eagle and Cole roads - reopened Sunday afternoon, 13 hours after the crash sent two people to the hospital and caused damage to the Cloverdale overpass, which will remain closed at least through Monday morning until repairs can be made.

Idaho State Police say a commercial vehicle and an SUV had slowed down near the Cloverdale overpass due to construction when a second commercial vehicle hit them from behind.

Four other vehicles were also involved the chain-reaction crash, which caused at least one vehicle to catch fire.






Ginger Bradburn was on the road at that time and says she narrowly missed colliding with one of the commercial trucks involved.

"The headlights were staring at me in my passenger side," Bradburn said. "I don't know how it didn't hit me. I don't know how, it should have."

Fortunately, Bradburn was able to quickly move out of the truck's path.

"Then all of the sudden I hear crashes," she said. "I looked in my rear view mirror and I saw flames. There were car parts all over the road."

Police say they are working with the Ada County Coroner's Office to notify family members of those killed in the crash.

Although the names of the dead and injured have not yet been released, Mountain Home Air Force Base said in a release that the accident "is believed to involve Airmen stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho."

The 366th Fighter Wing will release more information about those involved as it becomes available.



Both eastbound and westbound lanes were blocked for several hours as police investigated the crash.

The westbound lanes reopened by about 5 a.m., but the eastbound lanes remained closed from Eagle Road to Cole Road until almost 1 p.m. Sunday. The closure caused major backups on I-84 between the Meridian and Eagle exits. Adjacent streets, like Overland Road were also backed up due to the diverted traffic.

While the interstate has reopened, the Idaho Transportation Department said in a Twitter post that the Cloverdale Road overpass will remain closed at least through Monday morning while crews evaluate the extent of damage to the bridge, and make repairs.

Officials said commuters Monday morning will need to find an alternate route.


This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Cause Of Fatal Chesley, Ontario Fire that took the Lives of three Kramer/Mitchell Family Members Not Considered Suspicious

Cause Of Fatal Chesley Fire Not Considered Suspicious 

By Steve Sabourin

June 14, 2018 4:07am

What sparked a fatal fire in a home in Chesley earlier this week is still unknown, however, whatever caused it is not suspicious.

Manny Garcia is the lead investigator from the Office of the Fire Marshal and is working on a lead that the fire may have started outside the home.

What is known is that the extensive damage to the site included the loss of two vehicles. There were also propane tanks, cylinders and oxyacetylene tanks on the property at the time of the fire, but they are not being considered as the starting point.

The office of the coroner is also involved in the investigation as three bodies were pulled from the fire and will be working to identify the remains.

Police have not released any names, but a GoFundMe page started by a family friend has raised just over $30,000 as of Thursday morning.

The mother remains in a London hospital and is being treated for injuries she suffered during the June 11 fire, while an infant is with other family members.
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Kramer/Mitchell Family

The Mitchell family home was involved in a house fire on Sunday June 10th. Mom and baby got out. But father went back in to get the 2 daughters and all 3 were taken by the fire. Please help support this family in need in their darkest hour.

To all that have donated, thank you for the overwhelming support and prayers. This is going to be a long road to recovery for the family as well as the community.

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CHESLEY, Ontario, Canada - Chesley is in mourning after the house-fire deaths of a father and two daughters early Monday morning, but the community is pulling together to support the surviving young mother in a London burn unit and her baby.

The fire marshals office determined the fire started on the exterior of the home in a carport area. The cause isn't deemed suspicious. Autopsies weren't completed Wednesday.

Concerned residents and friends expressed shock and sadness in interviews with The Sun Times.

It's a small town of 1,800 and some spoke guardedly to protect the privacy of John Kramer Jr. and girls, Shailyn, 9, and Britnee, 5, who they said died in the fire. Officials have not publicly named the victims, but they have been identified through assistance efforts.

Lindsy Mitchell escaped the fire but was badly burned, said Kim Caragianakos, a friend of Lindsy's sister, Krista, who is caring for Lindsy's baby, Dillon, who is 15 months old.

There are several efforts to raise money and collect household items and toiletries for Lindsy and the baby, including a Gofundme page which already has raised $27,000, already smashing the $10,000 goal, and an account at the Northern Credit Union. Arran-Elderslie Mayor Paul Eagleson said this kind of loss is something you see on TV but never expect in your own small community. He saw the look on people's faces in Chesley Monday morning as he arrived for a council meeting.

"The whole district is in shock and mourning," he said, noting all flags are at half-mast at municipal buildings as a sign of respect. "It just takes the heart right out of you. Our thoughts are with the missus now, and the young son."

He thanked first-responders, including the volunteer firefighters who answered so traumatic a call, and encouraged anyone to seek help if what they went through starts to trouble them.

It's unknown what role if any smoke alarms played in this fatal fire but Eagleson said it should serve as a reminder anyway to check your fire alarms.

Caragianakos runs the Williamsford Pie Company and is donating $5 per pie to Lindsy Mitchell.

She posted on her store's Facebook site a story about the kind of man John Kramer Jr. was. Last year he'd visit three of four times a week to buy pies and treats for his grandmother, who was sick. The family also attended her Spring Fling barbecue.

She said they are "very quiet, calm people."

She's been overwhelmed with pie orders since starting her fundraising effort. Wednesday she had 95 pies to bake. There's also a collection box in her store, particularly for baby items, which she'll post to Facebook about later.

A number of people have stepped forward to help Lindsy and her son, to welcome them back home to the warm embrace of a caring community.

"They're just a lovely family and we want to help them as much as we can," said Jackie Humphrey, who's son was in the same kindergarten class as five-year-old Britnee, at Chesley District Community School.

"She was a just a beautiful little girl who was kind and happy and just loved the people around her," she said. "They're a very private, quiet, simple family." She knows the family's friends and they're not talking about this right now, she said.

Humphrey knows the family just from living in Chesley her whole life, although she didn't know them well.

"It's just a small community and we all kind of rally around each other when things happen," she said.

"In terrible moments like this it brings us together and we all hold each other a little tighter and try to remember that life is precious."

Humphrey is doing a decorative sign painting night on June 28 at 7 p.m. at the Klages Mill in Chesley. She's done fundraisers like this before. She'll donate $20 per sign. Call 226-668-8055 for details.

Jen Legge was Shailyn's Brownie leader last year. Her son attends the same Grade 4 class as Shailyn did. She said Shailyn was a "kind-hearted" kid, who loved art and she remembered how she enjoyed helping serving at a pancake supper.

Legge, a paramedic who would have been working the night of the fire had she not booked the day off, said she didn't know the family well. Her husband, a volunteer firefighter, was paged to the fire.

Like Humphrey, Suzanne Seddon just wanted to do something to support Lindsy Mitchell and her baby, though she doesn't know her or her husband.

She knows that John Kramer Jr. was "friends with just about anybody, he would give you whatever he had to give. Very well known. Very respected. Just really a stand-up guy."

He worked for Multiple Enterprises Inc., in Chesley.

Seddon and her daughter, Jessica, helped put donation jars for money at the Legion and at the local RONA B&L Farm Services. Jars are also at Hatten Home Hardware. Donations of clothes for Lindsy and the baby, toys, diapers, wipes, bedding and other needs for the baby are being collected at Jessica's home.

To donate, items can be dropped off at 161 3rd Ave. SW in Chesley. Call 519-477-8194 to reach Seddon or 226-230-3397 to reach Jessica.

She understands Lindsy Mitchell will have probably a four-week stay in London. When she returns home, she wants her to feel supported. She's an "amazing mom" and "family was very important to her," Seddon said.

"This is going to be a long road to recovery for her and when she comes home, Chesley is going to be her home.

"She is going to heal medically in the hospital. But she has a tragedy to come home to. And I think the community needs to do everything they can do to at least lessen some of the burden."

That's what someone did for her a couple of years ago when she took in and cared for her daughter-in-law, who later died of brain cancer. So she sees this as her opportunity to do the same for someone else.

"I feel this is how it should be. There is so much hate and there are so many terrible things going on that there has to be good."

An account has been set up at Northern Credit Union in Chesley to receive donations to help all the victims of the fire, both the Mitchell family and neighbours whose homes were incidentally damaged. Branches in Durham, Chesley and Elmwood will accept donations to account number 100002556389.

The Chesley branch is a drop-off location for donations for the Mitchell family.

3 people in an SUV were killed in a head-on collision with a wrong-way Camry driver on Indiana Toll Road near mile marker 83

Wrong way driver allegedly causes deadly crash on Indiana Toll Road
By: Renee Ruth
June 17, 2018

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. –

The Indiana Toll Road is closed temporarily due to a crash near mile marker 83 after a several vehicle crash that claimed three lives.

Sgt. Ted Bohner with Indiana State Police confirmed three fatalities after a dark-colored Toyota Camry traveled against traffic causing several vehicles to hit one another.

According to ISP, calls came in at 7:26 p.m. with reports of an erratic driver near mile marker 83.

The Camry was heading eastbound and pulled over where it turned around near mile marker 87. The Camry allegedly began driving westbound against eastbound traffic.

ISP got a report of a crash at 7:32 p.m.

An SUV was passing a semi when the Camry struck it, causing a chain reaction with at least two other vehicles.

According to Sgt. Bohner the driver of the semi is fine. The driver of a Malibu had minor injuries.

The driver of the Camry was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

There were five individuals in the SUV, two were pronounced dead at the scene and one was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Among the deceased were an adult female, a teen female, and an infant male.