SOUTH BEND, INDIANA MAN ARRESTED AFTER VEHICLE AND FOOT PURSUIT

FEBRUARY 28, 2015

MIAMI COUNTY, INDIANA

Yesterday afternoon, a vehicle pursuit led to the arrest of Tommie Payne IV, 23, South Bend, IN. Payne was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail to face felony charges for obstruction of justice and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle. He also faces misdemeanor charges for criminal recklessness and operating a vehicle while intoxicated with endangerment. 

Friday at approximately 1:59 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Ben Reason was on routine patrol when he stopped a 2007 Ford Taurus, driven by Payne, for traveling over the posted speed limit on U.S. 31near Miami County Road 1500 North. When Reason was speaking with Payne, the trooper allegedly smelled the odor of burnt marijuana emitting form the vehicle. 

When Payne opened the car’s glove box, Reason purportedly observed two small plastic bags containing a green plant like material, which Trooper Reason believed was marijuana. At this point Payne allegedly drove away southbound on U.S. 31. Payne led the trooper on an approximately eight minute vehicle pursuit, at speeds ranging from 85 to 100 miles per hour. The vehicle pursuit ended on U.S. 31 near Eel River Cemetery Road when Payne crashed while trying to avoid stop sticks that had been placed in the road by responding troopers. 

After crashing, Payne emerged from the Ford and allegedly ran away on foot. After a short distance, Payne surrendered due to the fact he was surrounded by numerous Indiana State Police officers who had arrived to assist. 

During the vehicle pursuit, Payne allegedly threw out the plastic bags Trooper Reason had observed in the glove box. Further investigation revealed that Payne was allegedly driving while under the influence of marijuana. He was not injured in the crash. 

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Two photos of Payne's crashed car are attached.

1 CRITICAL, 2 SERIOUSLY INJURED IN HEAD-ON CRASH HWY 26 IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, OREGON

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

WASHINGTON COUNTY, OREGON 

UPDATE

Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into this afternoons serious injury head-on crash on HWY 26 at milepost 40.
Preliminary information from troopers involved in the investigation indicates that shortly before 5:00 P.M., on Friday, February 27, a grey 2005 Honda CR-V, operated by LYNNE FIELD, 66, of Portland, was westbound on highway 26 near milepost 40 when it went onto the highway shoulder. The driver over-corrected from the shoulder and crossed the highway into the oncoming eastbound lane of travel; striking a blue, 2014 Chevrolet Sonic passenger car, head-on.
The driver of the CR-V, FIELD, was transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) with injuries described as critical. The driver of the Sonic, identified as RICHARD G. PAUL, 54, of Pearland Texas, and his passenger, MARY E. PAUL, 52, also of Pearland, were transported via ground ambulance to OHSU with reportedly serious injuries.
OSP was assisted at the scene by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Banks Fire Department and Oregon Department of Transportation. The investigation is ongoing and no further details are available at this time.
Original Release:
The road is blocked as the investigation continues. Motorists are asked to use alternate routes or expect delays. Check www.tripcheck.com for road status updates. Additional information will be released when it becomes available.

WOMAN, 91, HOSPITALIZED AFTER CAR COLLIDES WITH FIRE TRUCK

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE

Two people were taken to hospitals Wednesday when a passenger car and fire truck collided at an intersection in south Snohomish County.

A Mountlake Terrace woman, 91, was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where she was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit on Thursday. She was driving a 1990 Volvo.

The firefighter driving the Snohomish County Fire District 1 Spartan pumper truck was transported to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.  He is 54 and from Brier.  He was treated and released.  His three firefighter passengers were not injured but were given precautionary medical examinations. 

The fire truck was headed west on 228th Street SW in Mountlake Terrace with its emergency lights and sirens activated, according to a Washington State Patrol memo.

The Volvo was southbound on 44th Avenue W when it entered the intersection against a red light and was struck by the fire truck, the State Patrol reported.

Fire District 1 battalion chief Jerry Sheehan said accidents involving fire trucks have been rare for his department over the years.

The emergency vehicles use automatic trips to create green lights when they approach traffic intersection signals, but that doesn’t mean they pass through without slowing down, he said.

“We are requesting the right of way,” he said. “We are not demanding it.  We slow down as much as necessary to make sure we have absolute control of the intersection.”

Damage to the fire truck was minimal.  It was able to be driven from the scene and was being inspected on Thursday.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER KILLED ON ZOO INTERCHANGE SITE IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

FEBRUARY 28, 2015

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

A construction worker has been killed while working on the Zoo Interchange construction site near 91st Street in Milwaukee.

Authorities say 33-year-old Ryan Calkins of Brookfield was killed due to a construction related accident involving machinery on the westbound side of I-94 at approximately 7:41 a.m. Saturday morning, February 28th — he was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is unclear how many other construction workers were also working there Saturday morning.

The Wisconsin DOT says this is a very rare occurrence. There is a lot of safety training involved for any construction project.

A spokesman for the DOT is calling this a tragedy. Those living nearby echoed that sentiment as they saw emergency crews at the scene for hours.

“I looked over the edge a little bit and I saw rescue squads and I saw a bunch of people around a piece of machinery. It was like a drill thing, like they were drilling to place a  post or something,” said Thomas Kleppin, neighbor.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is working with the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health division (OSHA) and Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in this investigation.

Work on the Zoo Interchange will continue in part not near the investigation. It it unclear how long the investigation will last.

REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY (RSI) AWARENESS DAY – FEBRUARY 28, 2015

TORONTO, CANADA

On February 28, UFCW Canada will join workers and other labour groups around the world to recognize Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day. Health and safety activists initiated the annual day of awareness in 2000 to help bring attention to an occupational hazard that affects thousands of people in many different sectors of the economy.

Also known as musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), the term repetitive strain injury (RSI) refers to a number of injuries that affect the body’s muscles, nerves, and tendons. Some common RSIs include tendinitis, tenosynovitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

One in 10 Canadian workers is afflicted with some form of RSI and, besides the emotional strain that these injuries can have on affected workers and their families, the cost of dealing with RSIs exceeds $26 billion – or 3 percent of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) – every year.  In Ontario alone, more than 40% of all lost-time claims are linked to RSI.

Despite the massively negative impact of RSIs on workers and the economy, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador are the only provinces– in addition to federally regulated workplaces – that have so far recognized the need for regulatory action to address this issue. It is long overdue for other jurisdictions to join in, because the evidence shows that government regulation, enforcement and ergonomic standards can help to prevent RSI/MSD injuries.

The reality is that most repetitive strain injuries are preventable, which is why governments must support effective and enforced ergonomic regulations — which should also require workplace training to address RSI issues and prevention.

To help raise awareness, the UFCW Canada Workplace Rights Committee is making available a series of RSI posters and other related tools and resources. UFCW Canada's 2015 RSI Awareness Day posters are now available for download in both French and English. Members, staff, and allies can also access the MSD Prevention Toolbox – which UFCW Canada co-developed with the Ontario Ministry of Labour and other stakeholder groups – via the links provided on this page.