METRA TRAIN CRASHES TEENAGE GIRL TO DEATH AT CROSSING ON LILLY POND ROAD

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS

The victim of Wednesday's fatal Metra-vehicle collision has been identified by the McHenry County Coroner's Office as 19-year-old Amanda L. Williams.

The Woodstock teen was traveling southbound on Lily Pond Road when her vehicle apparently went onto the tracks at the Lily Pond Road crossing. The vehicle was then struck by an inbound Metra train, Coroner Anne Majewski stated in a release. Williams was pronounced dead a little before 5 p.m. at the scene.

Woodstock Police Chief Robert Lowen said preliminary investigation indicates that the recent snowfall was a major contributor to the crash.

"This is just very tragic ... just horrible timing," Lowen said, adding it appears the teen attempted to brake, but the vehicle instead slid onto the tracks just as the train was coming. "Right now it appears this was an accident related to the icy road conditions."

The vehicle ended up in a ditch about 200 feet east of the intersection, according to the Woodstock Fire Rescue District. Woodstock Fire Capt. Brendan Parker on Wednesday said the crossing is at the base of two hills and when headed south, the road makes a quick curve before the tracks.

Williams, who played volleyball at McHenry County College, was mourned by coaches and teammates Thursday.

Assistant volleyball coach Sheri Mayner took to Twitter to share her thoughts and post a picture of Williams' No. 6 on the scoreboard at the MCC gymnasium.

"The crying will stop, the pain will go away, but my memories of you will always stay," Mayner wrote.

McHenry County College officials declined to allow coaches to be interviewed Thursday, but released a statement on behalf of the institution.

"The entire McHenry County College community offers our deepest condolences to the family, friends and teammates of MCC student and volleyball player, Amanda Williams," the statement read. "We share our sympathy in this tragic loss. Amanda will be greatly missed.

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 FEBRUARY 26, 2015

WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS

Students and faculty at Belvidere North High school are grieving tonight, after a former student is killed in a tragic accident. 19-year-old Amanda Williams died last night, after the car she was driving was hit by a Metra train in McHenry County. 

The accident happened just after 5pm Wednesday, at the Lily Pond Road crossing in Woodstock. Police say Williams was driving southbound, when it appears she skidded onto the track and was struck by the train. First responder and Fire Chief Ralph Webster says that accident was not a head on collision, “(the car was) struck on passenger side and was pushed off of the tracks into a ravine that was about a 20-30 foot drop from the level of the tracks.”

While the exact cause is unknown, it was snowing at the time, and weather is believed to be a factor in the incident. “I believe so because of the road conditions, because the snow had started approximately an hour before, it was slippery. We felt that actually on our way out to the accident, I do believe it did play a factor in the accident,” says Webster. Webster describes the crossing at lily pond as a dangerous intersection to navigate; it’s located at the bottom of a hill with ravines on either side. ”The intersection at the train tracks you are actually coming down a hill and trying to navigate a curve at the same time , and then preparing to go up a hill once you get on the other side of the tracks, so it is a tricky intersection,” he says. 

Williams was a freshman at McHenry County Community College, and had moved to the Woodstock area.  She graduated from Belvidere North, where she was known as a passionate volleyball player.  And at Belvidere North, kids spread the word on social media to wear black to mourn the former student and friend, taken too soon.

There were no injuries to any of the passengers on the Metra train. The accident is being investigated by the Woodstock Police and by Metra. 

What a beautiful girl.  Such a shame to lose her so soon.  Her death will be very hard to get over.

MANUFACTURING EXPLOSION AT ALTEX TECHNOLOGIES CORP., FORCES EVACUATION OF SUNNYVALE BUILDING; 2 INJURED

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA (CBS SF)

A manufacturing explosion injured two workers and forced the shutdown of a business and a street in Sunnyvale Thursday afternoon. 

Sunnyvale Public Safety responded to the 200 block of Sobrante St. just before 2:00 p.m. There was an explosion in a manufacturing area of a business there. The business uses hazardous materials as part of its manufacturing process. 

From Chopper 5, two men could be seen holding ice packs to their heads at the scene as fire crews pulled out hazmat suits and other containment gear nearby.

A cluster of about a dozen other civilians could be seen waiting on the curb nearby as fire officials huddled up behind an informal command center assessing the situation.

Any hazardous materials have been isolated to the business and there is no danger to the public, public safety officials said.

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UPDATE

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA (CBS SF)

Fire and hazardous-materials crews were called to 1:33 p.m. to Altex Technologies Corporation, in the 200 block of Sobrante. Authorities said the facility was evacuated, and two employees were treated at the scene for minor injuries. 

Employees of an adjacent business reported hearing an explosion before the emergency call. 

Two Altex employees were working in a lab, using hydrogen, when an explosion occurred, according to the Sunnyvale DPS. They suffered minor burns to the face, and after being treated at the scene, were transported to Valley Medical Center in San Jose. 

Sunnyvale Fire Department personnel respond to a call of an explosion that injured two people at Altex Technology on Sobrante Way in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015.

The building, which includes at least one other tenant, was evacuated, but after entering the building, hazardous materials crews determined the building was safe. Other tenants were able to return after about 90 minutes; Altex employees waited for another inspection of their portion of the building. 

The incident was confined to the lab, and there was no hazard to the general public, according to Sunnyvale officials.

Police cordoned off Sobrante, which is just south of Central Expressway west of North Mathilda Avenue. The road reopened around 4 p.m. 

Altex Technologies is a 15,000-square-foot facility housing testing and equipment involving heat and power systems and biomass. On its website, the company states, "Special test facilities are available to support heat exchanger, fuel cell and microturbine systems, biomass densification and conversion to liquid fuels and low emissions burners."

TRUCK CRASHES INTO YARMOUTH POST OFFICE IN MAINE

February 26, 2015

YARMOUTH, MAINE (NEWS CENTER)

An F-150 pickup truck crashed into a U.S. Post Office Thursday in Yarmouth.

Yarmouth Police said the crash happened around 12:30 p.m. and at the post office on Forest Falls Drive. 

The pickup truck crashed into the front lobby of the post office and caused extensive damage to the building. Police documented the damage and the truck was towed from the scene.

Police said the driver was unharmed and there were no injuries.  The driver’s wallet maybe gets hurt depending on the outcome of the investigation.

ANOTHER PEDESTRIAN CASUALTY: WOMAN HIT, THEN CRUSHED AND KILLED BY SEMI TRUCK IN OTSEGO, MICHIGAN. THE SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT HE “DID NOT SEE HER”.

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

OTSEGO, MICHIGAN

Authorities are investigating after a semi-truck hit and killed a pedestrian in Otsego Thursday afternoon.

It happened on M-89 at North Farmer Street in Otsego.  The woman was crossing M-89 to go to her bank, when she was hit by a semi-truck and killed instantly, according to the Otsego police chief.   She reportedly fell and was run over by the semi trailer, crushed to death at the scene.

Otsego police chief Gordon Konkle said at approximately 3:30 p.m. the 56-year-old had started crossing East Allegan Street (M-89) at Farmer Street with a walk signal. At the same time, the driver of a southbound semi truck turned east on M-89 and hit her.

“He had a green light, she had a green light,” Konkle said. “But obviously you have to yield to pedestrians. He just stated he didn’t see her.

“He came around the corner; she was knocked to the ground and got caught under the wheels of the trailer.”

Konkle said Otsego officers were on scene within minutes but the woman appeared to have died of her injuries.

No citations have been issued at this time, but the case remains under investigation and the county prosecutor’s office will make the final determination if charges will be issued.

Allegan County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Michigan State Police and Otsego firefighters also responded to the scene. Law enforcement, with city help, blocked off traffic along the 100 block of East Allegan Street (M-89). The barricades were cleared by approximately 6 p.m.

Source: www.woodtv.com