MEC&F Expert Engineers : 06/24/15

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Levee breaks near Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The water in the flooded basin is slowly dropping.

  Here is a photo taken earlier today of a breach in the Cumberland Levee. Flood waters from the Washita River are flowing through the breach into an uninhabited, containment basin. Our top priority is public safety and we continue to work around-the-clock to help mitigate the impact of flooding. Heavy rains are still saturating the area, please do not drive into flooded areas. Stay Safe!


 View of the Cumberland Levee yesterday as flood waters from the Washita River over-top the structure. We have teams on the ground and we will publish more photos and information as it becomes available to us. The water is flowing into an uninhabited containment area. No homes or residences are located in the affected area.

JUNE 21, 2015

MARSHALL COUNTY, Oklahoma

The Army Corps of Engineers said the Cumberland Levee, just south of Tishomingo, has a breach.

The levee, which sits just north-west of the Fort Washita bridge on Highway 199, holds back water from the Washita River, channeling it into Lake Texoma.

The Army Corps reports the water is flowing into an uninhabited area.

 //------------//

LEVEE UPDATE: Some of of you have been asking about what it looks like on the South Cumberland Levee, in Southeastern Oklahoma. 

We walked the levee today with engineers and rangers and it appears to be holding well. Here is a shot of the only area where there was currently water close to the top. The water in the flooded basin is also slowly dropping.

We'll post more videos as we get them. 

0:00/0:10

The Florida Division of Insurance Fraud has announced the arrest of Dr. Douglas Price, owner of the Florida Pain Trauma and Injury Clinic in Auburndale, Fla., and three others on charges related the operation of a complex PIP fraud scam.

4 Arrests Made in Florida Injury Clinic PIP Fraud

June 23, 2015

The Florida Division of Insurance Fraud has announced the arrest of Dr. Douglas Price, owner of the Florida Pain Trauma and Injury Clinic in Auburndale, Fla., and three others on charges related the operation of a complex PIP fraud scam. 

Price, along with Paulin Sanon and Sonya Rivera of Haines City, and Juliena Julien of Winter Haven are accused of recruiting patients to visit Price’s clinic for treatment of fake injuries following staged accidents.

Following an October 2014 staged accident, Juliena Julien unknowingly recruited an undercover police officer to assist with their scheme, according to a statement by DIF. Julien reportedly requested that the officer visit the Florida Pain Trauma and Injury Clinic to report fraudulent injuries and stated that he would receive monetary compensation for doing so.


Between October 2014 and March 2015, an investigation uncovered evidence that Price’s Auburndale and Tampa clinics were engaged in patient brokering, and also that clinic staff were performing treatments that they were not qualified or licensed to perform, the DIF stated. 

Price and his associate, Sonya Rivera, reportedly offered $500 as compensation for 15 clinic visits, and an additional $500 after 25 visits to the clinic for treatment of injuries that did not exist. A monetary offer was also extended for the recruitment of additional individuals to attend the clinic.

Based on their roles in the scheme, Price will be charged with three counts of patient brokering, a 3rd degree felony; Sonya Rivera and Paulin Sanon, one of Price’s marketers, will both be charged with one count of patient brokering; and Juliena Julien will be charged with the unlicensed practice of healthcare, according to DIF.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Winter Haven, Haines City and Auburndale Police Departments, along with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Bristol West Insurance Co. assisted with the investigation, and the case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of the Statewide Prosecutor.
Source: Florida Department of Financial Services

Alabama woman is accused of fabricating bills and submitting them to an insurance company for payment after the death of her daughter, Meredith Ashley Brown who died in 2011

Woman accused of using daughter's death to commit insurance fraud

(Source: St. Clair County Jail)
 
JUNE 23, 2015 
 
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - 

A St. Clair County woman has been indicted on insurance fraud charges.
Carolyn Bunt, 46, of Cropwell was arrested Thursday after turning herself in to authorities at the St. Clair County Jail.

St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor said Bunt was charged with first-degree insurance fraud.

She's accused of fabricating bills and submitting them to an insurance company for payment after the death of her daughter, Meredith Ashley Brown who died in 2011 at the age of 21.

Minor said Bunt provided false information that resulted in fraudulent insurance payments in excess of $240,000.

Bunt was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Alabama State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk, whose Fraud Division of the Alabama Department of Insurance began investigating the case in 2014 had this to say. 

"Insurance Fraud is a crime and will continue to be vigorously pursued here and elsewhere." Paulk added fraud such as this is, in effect, stealing; stealing not only from the insurance provider but from all insurance consumers through the higher rates the providers must charge."

Bunt's arraignment is set for August.

First-degree insurance fraud carries a penalty of two to twenty years in prison.

Woman killed after running stop sign, driving into path of dump truck in Lafayette, Indiana


(Photo: Steven Porter/Journal &Courier)
(Photo: Steven Porter/Journal &Courier)


JUNE 24, 2015
 
LAFAYETTE, INDIANA

 A woman was killed after police said she drove into the path of a dump truck in Lafayette Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews responded to the accident near 18th Street and Schuyler Avenue around 9:30 a.m.

According to the Journal & Courier, a passenger vehicle heading northbound ran a stop sign at the intersection and drove into the path of the dump truck. The driver of the dump truck attempted to avoid hitting the car and struck the Popp-A-Top building at 1802 Schuyler Ave.

The Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office pronounced the woman deceased at the scene. Her identity has not been released at this time.
Source:http://fox59.com

Worker severely injures legs after falling onto cement mixing auger in Summit County, Utah



JUNE 22, 2015

Summit County, Utah
 
A man suffered severe lower leg injuries Monday evening when he fell into an auger in Summit County.

The 52-year-old was working on an Interstate 80 construction project near Wanship, in the westbound lanes. About 6:15 p.m., he was cleaning cement equipment when he fell into the auger, said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce.

His injuries are critical, but not life-threatening, Royce said.

The man was taken in an ambulance to Wanship, where a medical helicopter moved him to a trauma center in Salt Lake City.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will take over the investigation into how the man fell in, Royce said.
Source:The Salt Lake Tribune

Tanker truck overturn in Dickson, TN cases large gasoline fuel spill; cleanup continues


The truck driver was trying to deliver fuel to Huck's gas station at the corner of Highway 46 and College Street in Dickson when he either took a wrong turn or the GPS was wrong.

The cleanup process will continue in the area of Wade Ave and East Railroad Street in Dickson Wednesday after a fuel-carrying tanker truck overturned at the intersection's corner Tuesday afternoon, spilling gasoline onto the street and into the culvert, said Dickson County Emergency Management Agency Director Rob Fisher.

The first phase of the cleanup – vacuuming up the fuel and covering the area in fire-retardant foam – was finished about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Fisher said. At that time, residents in the area, who had been evacuated, were allowed to return home.

A shelter area for those residents was set up at Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson just down the street from the scene.

HEPACO and B&P, both emergency response, environmental cleanup companies, were contracted by the trucking company for the cleanup. Both companies are expected to have equipment, vehicles and crews on the scene today, forcing closure of the Wade Ave and East Railroad streets again, Fisher said.

A vacuum tanker truck remains on site for continued gas cleanup.

Fisher said crews will actually dig into the dirt and also remove the culvert for environmental remediation purposes. The foam that was used is expected to be gone today, Fisher said.

The truck driver, Fisher said, was trying to deliver fuel to Huck's gas station at the corner of Highway 46 and College Street in Dickson when he "either took a wrong turn or the GPS was wrong." The driver only sustained a cut finger.

"We are extremely fortunate no one got hurt," Fisher said.

"That was a very costly wrong turn," Fisher added.

Man Dies at Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas


Man dies at Electric Daisy Carnival
KTNV - Las Vegas, NV
A festival goer died at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, a massive extravaganza of electronic dance music drawing hundreds of thousands of revelers.

Fans gather near an electric daisy art installation during the 18th annual Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on June 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Fans gather near an electric daisy art installation during the 18th annual Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on June 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

JUNE 23, 2015

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

The circumstances of the man’s death Saturday are not yet clear. The Clark County coroner’s office has not released the man’s name or cause of death, CNN affiliate KTNV said.

It’s also not clear if the weather played a role. The temperature Saturday in Las Vegas soared to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, tying the city’s record high temperature.

Insomniac, the company producing the three-day festival, issued a statement after the death.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who passed away. The health and safety of our fans is Insomniac’s first priority and we take every measure to create a safe environment,” Insomniac said.

“While the cause of this tragedy will take some time to determine, we ask that you keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”

More than 400 medical calls have been reported from the festival, which ends Monday, KTNV said. Seven people were taken to a hospital.

About 135,000 people attended the second night of Electric Daisy Carnival on Saturday.
Source: http://ktla.com

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash After San Fernando, CA Pursuit Reaches Speeds of Up to 130 MPH. The impact of the collision severed the hydrant from its base.


Los Angeles police were investigating a pursuit that ended in a fatal crash in San Fernando on June 24, 2015. (Credit: KTLA)
Los Angeles police were investigating a pursuit that ended in a fatal crash in San Fernando on June 24, 2015. (Credit: KTLA)

JUNE 24, 2015

SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA
 
A motorcyclist died after crashing into a fire hydrant during a high-speed police pursuit that reached speeds in excess of 100 mph on San Fernando surface streets early Wednesday, authorities said.

The incident began around 2 a.m. when a unit from LAPD’s Foothill Division received a radio call regarding shots fired in the 12100 block of Sheldon Street, according to Sgt. Frank Preciado of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The person who called to report the shooting described the gunman as a male riding a blue motorcycle.

A short time later, an LAPD supervisor in the area saw a vehicle matching the description and made eye contact with the motorcyclist, who then sped away, Preciado told reporters during a morning news conference at the scene.

The supervisor initiated a short pursuit, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph, according to Preciado. Less than a minute later, the supervisor relinquished the chase to an LAPD air ship.

A short time after that, the motorcyclist — who may have been traveling at speeds of up to 130 mph — crashed into a fire hydrant on Truman Road, Preciado said.

The impact of the collision severed the hydrant from its base. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle and landed some 150 feet away, according to Preciado.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The county coroner’s office still had not arrived at the scene as of 7 a.m., and the man’s identity remained unknown.

According to Preciado, a handgun was recovered at the scene. The incident, he added, was under investigation.

Canadian Pacific (CP) investigated for 57-car train allegedly left without hand brakes near Revelstoke


Calgary Courts Centre in Calgary. Calgary Herald

Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Division says a Canadian Pacific Railway conductor was ordered to leave unattended a 57-car train containing tanker cars carrying dangerous goods without securing its emergency hand brakes on a mountain slope above Revelstoke, B.C., last February.

The country’s transportation safety body alleges in a 34-page information to obtain a search warrant, filed by safety inspector Robert W. Blair at Calgary provincial court last month, that conductor Stefaney Pacey had sent an email to a CP union representative Jamie Lind on Feb. 16 concerning the order to not apply hand brakes, used to clap down wheels, to Train 401 on Feb. 14 and 15.

Her email was forwarded to Transportation Canada Rail safety inspector Todd Horie, then Horie and another inspector, Geoff Campbell, launched an investigation into the alleged incident.

The probe led to investigators seizing all radio voice recordings, telephone recordings, electronic and written records for rail traffic control, train information sheets, management notes and employee notes from CP’s head office on Ogden Dale Road S.E. last month.

In an interview with Pacey on April 29, according to the court document, the conductor said she was directed by her manager to set off all railway cars at Greely storage track of CP’s Mountain Subdivision as they were approaching the southeastern B.C. town near the end of her shift late on Feb. 14.

At midnight, CP workers were scheduled to walk off the job on a strike.

Pacey said she knew that all unattended equipment in high-risk locations would require hand brakes to be applied to the cars, in accordance with an Oct. 29, 2014, directive from Transport Minister Lisa Raitt as a result of the deadly Lac Magentic, Que., derailment the previous year.

Pacey noted that via a radio communication to the rail traffic controller in Calgary there was insufficient time to complete the assigned movement as directed, and that was she directed not to apply the brakes to the standing cut of cars. She also informed that the direction came from Mark Jackson, then employed as superintendent for CP’s B.C. Interior Division.

The conductor also advised investigators that she left the standing cut without hand brakes, as directed, and that she knew the railway tank cars — believed to be more than a dozen — were carrying dangerous goods. The cars relied on secondary brakes to keep from rolling and did not move until picked up later.

As of the filing of the information to obtain the search warrant, no interview had been conducted with Train 401 engineer Curtis Ayotte.

According to the minister’s directive under the Railway Safety Act less than four months earlier, there was new information released as a result of the deadly Lac Megantic derailment in July 2013, that warranted such action.

In the Lac Megantic incident, in which an explosion and fire involving cars carrying crude oil killed 47 people, some hand brakes had been applied, to complement the air brakes, but failed to hold after the engine was shut off.

“I am of the opinion that more robust defences are required to prevent the risk of any future uncontrolled motion of railway equipment,” said the directive, signed by the assistant deputy minister of safety and security.

“Notwithstanding the fact that new rules pertaining to the securement of railway equipment have since been adopted by the industry and that practices related to the securement of railway equipment have improved, there remains sufficient residual risk that without additional layers of defence, uncontrolled motion of railway equipment could still occur, with possibly catastrophic consequences.”

In this case, none of the engines or cars moved from where they were parked and they were later removed.

Transportation Canada has not laid any charges, but alleges there is reasonable grounds to believe that two offences have been committed: that CP and Jackson contravened a section of the Railway Safety Act by leaving the equipment unattended without using hand brakes.

CP spokesman Marty Cej said by phone Monday that he could comment very little as the incident still is under investigation. He also could not confirm media reports by Jackson that he had been cleared of any wrongdoing.

“Canadian Pacific is co-operating fully with Transport Canada and we will continue to co-operate,” Cej said. “This is ongoing and, at this point, that’s all I can say.”

If a corporation is convicted of the charge by indictment, it faces a fine not exceeding $1 million. An individual, by indictment, faces a fine not exceeding $50,000 and one year in jail, or both.

On the lesser summary conviction, a corporation is subject to a fine not exceeding $500,000, and an individual faces a fine of no more than $25,000 or six months in jail, or both.
Source:Calgary Herald

Sinking lease rates, weak crude prices and tough new safety measures for transporting oil by rail have spurred a resurgence in hauling ethanol on the U.S. rail network


Sinking lease rates, weak crude prices and tough new safety measures for transporting oil by rail have spurred a resurgence in hauling ethanol on the U.S. rail network, as some train companies convert tank cars to carry more corn-based biofuels.
The trend emerged in the past six months and marks a shift in a years-long boom in transporting crude-by-rail after rail companies, such as Greenbrier and GATX, rushed to increase tank car capacity as the U.S. shale revolution took off five years ago.

Now, some rail car owners are cleaning out oil-carrying tank cars to carry corn-based ethanol which is blended into U.S. motor fuel.

It is not clear if this is the start of a long-term trend or how widespread the shift has been.

But experts and traders say several factors are behind their renewed appetite for ethanol: Crude rail volumes have plunged this year as it has become more economic to import crude by sea; lease rates are down over 70 percent in the past 18 months due to a surplus of car capacity and the crude rout has fueled a recovery in demand for ethanol as more Americans take to the road.

New tank car safety standards announced in May after a series of fiery rail disasters in recent years may also be behind the trend.

"Two years ago, the ethanol guys were mad that all their cars were being taken away, and five years ago, it was only ethanol," Jeff Kerr, a senior editor at energy industry intelligence service Genscape, said.

"Now, ethanol guys are saying welcome home."

Tom Williamson, owner of Transportation Consultants, said he has helped broker several deals that included roughly 700 oil cars being pulled from oil and put into ethanol service in recent months.

The process includes an extensive cleaning of the cars and a full inspection, he said.

A U.S. ethanol trader said he has seen more cars become available since the crude price rout started nine months ago and lease rates have fallen.

MORE LENIENT, LOWER LEASE RATES

The U.S. rail network has also improved performance, allowing shippers to do more hauling without adding more cars.

New federal safety regulations for tank cars carrying fuel may also be behind the push. Rules on ethanol, which supporters say is less volatile than crude and is biodegradable, are more lenient than oil.

"It's certainly a factor in the switch, as leasing companies may be taking advantage of the longer lead time," Williamson said.

The ethanol industry has eight years to replace or modify the 28,000-tank-car fleet, three years longer than oil cars.

But another big driver has been the sharp drop in monthly lease rates for tank cars.

Long-term lease rates for the most common tank cars have plunged to as low as $700 a month, down from abut $2,500 about 18 months ago. One physical trader who focuses on crude rail said he saw a 18-month lease for $850 a car.

The cost of taking cars off the rails - as much as $100 a month per car - also makes it more appealing to make the switch, industry sources said.
Source:Reuters.com

Bakken oil field worker killed after DUI accident, friend charged with DUI and criminal endangerment

JUNE 22, 2015

Culbertson, MONTANA
 A Bakken oil field worker is dead and another is facing criminal charges for a drunk driving incident Sunday night in Culbertson.

David Penski, 30, died from a serious head injury after he was flung from an old abandoned deck that was being pulled by a pickup truck, according to Roosevelt County Coroner Jason Frederick.  The deck was originally attached at a mobile home.

The truck was being driven by William Flint, 36, who was reportedly drunk when he swerved and hit a curb near the intersection of Cedar Street and Wheatland Avenue in Culbertson.

The 36-year-old driver continued down the street, then stopped, detached the deck, left the scene and returned about an hour later.

Alcohol was a factor in the incident.

The men, both from Arizona, found the deck and chained it up to a truck without wheels or a trailer. The deck was dragged less than 200 feet.


The impact caused Penski, who was riding on the deck, to fly off and hit his head.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Seth Adams said Flint fled the scene after the incident and returned an hour later.

Penski was flown to Billings for medical treatment where he died just before midnight, said Frederick.

Flint now faces felony charges of DUI and criminal endangerment.

Frederick said he will face additional charges for Penski's death once the investigation is complete.

Penski and Flint are both from Arizona and were living in Montana while working in the Bakken.

These are the types of people working at the oilfields: drunks, violent people and so on.  The crime has increased significantly since these people arrived in Montana.   All in the name of oil and gas.

Driver killed after tree and wires fall on car in Md. during violent storms





A man died after a car crashed into a tree and pole Tuesday in Poolesville. WUSA

POOLESVILLE, Md. (WUSA9)

A violent storm that rolled through Montgomery County on Tuesday left one man dead.

The man has been identified as Elmer Henry Froelich, Jr., 79, of Poolesville.
A downed tree and power pole were involved in the deadly collision which happened on Darnestown Road and Cattail Drive.

The car may have struck branch or a tree, some fairly large trees are down in this area, Car skidded off and broke the pole, and unfortunately some live wires came down on top of the vehicle, said Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, Pete Piringer.
The rural, wooded area of Northern Montgomery County seemed to have taken the brunt of Tuesday's storms. Several roads were left clogged and closed with several down trees.
The investigation is still on going.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.

A Congresswoman with balls: JACKIE SPEIER: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has incompetent management, "Toothless Tiger" in the face of serious revelations about their lax oversight of natural gas pipeline companies and regulators.

April 14, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo counties) demanded accountability from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in the face of serious revelations about their lax oversight of natural gas pipeline companies and regulators. Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, she called for PHMSA to enforce and implement existing safety laws and laid out a framework for robust pipeline safety measures nationwide.

“It is clear to me that PHMSA does not have the teeth—or the will—to enforce pipeline safety in this country,” said Speier. “As we’ve seen in California, it is often powerless over state regulators. Even when it has crystal-clear authority, it still refuses to act. PHMSA is not only a toothless tiger, but one that has overdosed on Quaaludes and is passed out on the job.”

Following a push for improved safety regulations by Congresswoman Speier, Congress passed the Pipeline Safety and Community Empowerment Act of 2011, which eliminated the “grandfather clause” that had given operators a pass on gas transmission pipelines installed before adequate testing was required. According to this law, PHMSA was supposed to close the loophole within 18 months, but instead PHMSA has disregarded the statute for four years.

Meanwhile, ongoing revelations of poor management at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) underscore the need for heightened federal oversight. This week, an external auditor hired by the CPUC found that its gas safety enforcement efforts have, in many areas, actually gotten worse since the explosion in San Bruno. PHMSA has not been conducting adequate oversight of these state regulatory agencies. Despite PHMSA paying for 80 percent of the pipeline safety program’s costs, a crony culture developed between industry and state regulators—and PHMSA claims they can do nothing about it. Reports by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Department of Transportation Inspector General found its work to disorganized and lax, and have recommended major overhauls of PHMSA policies.

In her testimony, Congresswoman Speier demanded that PHMSA increase its oversight over state pipeline inspection agencies and enact the NTSB recommendations. She plans to introduce legislation to tighten pipeline safety requirements and increase PHMSA’s ability to ensure that state pipeline safety agencies are held accountable for enforcing safety rules.

In September 2010, a pipeline run by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. exploded in San Bruno, California, taking eight lives and leveling 38 homes. The force of the explosion was so great that it propelled a piece of pipe weighing 3,000 pounds for 100 feet. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation revealed that the explosion was caused by a defective weld and cobbled together pipe in a 1956 segment of the line, a portion of the line that was never adequately re-inspected after the pipe was put into the ground. Since then, natural gas pipeline explosions have continued across the country, including in Allentown, Pennsylvania (2011), Charleston, West Virginia (2012), and Harlem, New York City (2014). The toll of dead and injured is in the hundreds.


We have been saying for a long time that lack oversight of pipelines, railroads and other parts of the transportation network.   The recent rupture of the Plains All American Cheapskates pipeline in Santa Barbara, CA is yet another testament of the state of the pipeline networks.

1 killed, 1 injured: On June 10, 2015, a Beech F35, N4224B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb from the Snohomish County Airport (PAE), Everett, Washington.

NTSB Identification: WPR15FA181
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 10, 2015 in Everett, WA
Aircraft: BEECH F35, registration: N4224B
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious.
 
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 10, 2015, about 0909 Pacific daylight time, a Beech F35, N4224B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb from the Snohomish County Airport (PAE), Everett, Washington. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot receiving instruction sustained serious injuries and the flight instructor was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an unknown destination.

Information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) revealed that the pilot was cleared for takeoff on runway 16R at the alpha 4 intersection. Following an acknowledgement of the takeoff clearance, no further radio transmissions were heard from the pilot. Witnesses located adjacent to the accident site reported observing the airplane takeoff and settle below a tree line out of their line of sight.

Examination of the accident site by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the airplane impacted terrain in an area of thick vegetation about 1,921 feet south of the departure end of runway 16R. All major structural components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Wreckage removed from deadly Czech Sport Aircraft AS Piper Sport plane crash site in Pender County, NC


JUNE 24, 2015
Crews removing the wreckage from the crash site. (Source: Anonymous)
Crews removing the wreckage from the crash site. (Source: Anonymous)
Crews removing the wreckage from the crash site. (Source: Anonymous)
SABLE spotted the plane's wreckage around 10:30 p.m., about a mile from the Topsail Air Park. (Source: WITN)
NTSB, FAA, and State Highway Patrol officials are continuing their investigation. (Source: WITN)
 
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - 

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board say a private plane that crashed in Pender County had been inspected a week before its final flight.

State Highway Patrol officials say Dillard Powell, 89 of North Topsail Beach, died in the crash Sunday near Highway 17.

During a news conference at the Surf City Fire Department Tuesday, officials announced the NTSB is reporting no sign of in-flight structural failure and no in-flight fire or explosion.

According to State Highway Patrol, officials were notified around 11:15 p.m. Sunday about a possible plane crash. Preliminary information revealed a plane took off from the Topsail Air Park around 3:30 p.m. Sunday en route to Albert J. Ellis Airport near Jacksonville.

Around 6:30 p.m., the pilot was reported missing after the flight was considered overdue.

Authorities with Pender and Onslow counties initiated a search for the missing aircraft. SABLE spotted the plane's wreckage around 10:30 p.m., about a mile from the Topsail Air Park.

FAA officials say the plane, a Czech Sport Aircraft AS Piper Sport, was registered out of North Topsail Beach in Onslow County.

Donna Crowler, a family friend of Powell's, told WITN that Powell was a World War II pilot and that his plane was recently serviced.

Crowler also says Powell's wife planned to meet him at Albert J. Ellis Airport. Powell's wife waited overnight for him to arrive.

The FAA says the flight did not receive air traffic control services, since none were required for the flight. NTSB, FAA, and State Highway Patrol officials are continuing their investigation.

Local pilots are keeping a close eye on what investigators determine to be the cause of the crash, wanting to learn from what mistakes may have been made in the air.

"It is very concerning and every pilot here is very concerned because you want to know what caused the accident and what could I do better and the majority of it is pilot error," said Lin Brown. "It could be weather, but it is still a judgment area and probably you shouldn't have gone when you did, that kind of thing but back on safety I hate to use the word anal but that's what it's all about, the safety."

As the investigation continues, the NTSB will be looking at weather conditions, the physiology of the pilot, function of the aircraft and the flight control systems.

Crews removed the wreckage from the crash site Tuesday evening. The NTSB said it will take them nine months to a year to have a full report.

2 seriously injured after crash of a Cessna 206, owned by Red Eagle Aviation, at the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area in Montana


 
2 people were flown to KRMC after the incident (MTN News photo)
 
2 people were flown to KRMC after the incident (MTN News photo)
 
KALISPELL, MONTANA

Three people survived a Tuesday plane crash in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. 

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Area is a Congressionally designated wilderness area located in western Montana in the United States.


Officials say the airplane was taking off the runway at Schafer Meadows Airstrip when the crash happened at the end of the runway. 

A single-engine Cessna 206, owned by Red Eagle Aviation, was set to take off Tuesday morning with Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry saying that before the plane had a chance to get off the ground, it crashed on the airstrip. 

"At this time it was a private transportation, they were rafters going into the Schafer area. At approximately 12:05 the Two Bear Air went to Schafer Airstrip to pick up the passengers to take them to the Kalispell hospital," U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Ema Braunberger said.

Officials say a private airplane attempted to take off around 11 a.m., but instead crashed at the end of the runway. 

Two of the three people inside were transported to the Kalispell Regional Medical Center and the third was okay. 

"The crash is under investigation and will be under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. I anticipate they'll send some crews and should be on site either later today or tomorrow," Curry said on Tuesday.

He added that the two injured adults were flown by Two Bear Helicopter and were not critically injured in the incident. 

No injuries have been reported in the crash of a Piper PA-24 Comanche small plane that lost power while flying over northern Iowa.




JUNE 24, 2015

CHARLES CITY, Iowa

No injuries have been reported in the crash of a light plane that lost power while flying over northern Iowa.

The Floyd County Sheriff's Office says the Piper PA-24 Comanche was being flown by David Priebe of Sumner when it lost power a little before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Priebe had 6,500 feet of altitude to work with as he maneuvered his single-engine aircraft toward the Charles City airport and tried to set down there. The Sheriff's Office says the plane overshot the landing and ended up in a ditch that runs alongside U.S. Highway 18.

The office says Priebe and his wife, who was flying with him, were not hurt. The plane sustained structural damage

Man arrested for Chesterfield InTown Suites hotel explosion and fire in Virginia



Explosion at InTown Suites in Chesterfield, Virginia

James G. Burns (Credit: Chesterfield Police Dept.)
 
James G. Burns (Credit: Chesterfield Police Dept.)
 
 
JUNE 24, 2015
 
CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) 

Investigators say they've arrested a man in connection to a suspicious explosion and fire that broke out early Tuesday morning at the InTown Suites in Chesterfield.

Chesterfield Police say shortly before 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, police and firefighters responded to a reported explosion on the hotel's third floor. The room's occupant was not present when first responders arrived. The hotel's sprinkler system was able to extinguish the flames.

While investigators have not released the cause of the explosion, they did call it "suspicious" and an arson felony arrest warrant was issued for the room's occupant, 53-year-old James G. Burns.

Burns was located in the City of Richmond on Tuesday afternoon and arrested without incident. He is currently being held at the Chesterfield County Jail without bond.


//---------////

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)

Investigators are trying to figure out what caused an explosion at a Chesterfield hotel early Tuesday morning.

The call came in around 4:30 a.m. for a fire alarm at the InTown Suites in the 11500-block of Green Spring Road, between Koger Center Blvd and Robious Road. Chesterfield County Fire and EMS tell us they found signs of an explosion, and some residents report the building shook.

Most people were asleep when it happened, but not Brendon Chandler.
"Just a big explosion and then the window just ended up in the parking lot," remembers Chandler.

He was smoking a cigarette when all of a sudden in the room above his, "The window just shot right out!"

And, that's when guests say chaos erupted.

"I just heard the fire alarm go off and I heard a whole bunch of people running outside. The next thing you know, I'm waking up and just everybody's going outside," says resident David Rivenbark.

Chesterfield Fire says the explosion happened in a room on the third floor. The blown-out window and melted plastic from the fire was evident from the outside. That fire activated the room's sprinkler system. Some second floor rooms sustained water damage from those sprinklers. 

A Hazmat team was brought in and tests found no hazardous materials in the room, but investigators are calling the situation "suspicious" and say the room's occupant was no where to be found.

One guest told NBC12, she heard footsteps before the fire alarm went off.

"[Someone was] hightailing it down the hall. We're right in front of the elevator near the stairwell, and I heard the stairwell door fly open and hit the wall," she says.

Now police want to talk to that person.

No one was injured by the explosion, but two hotel guests were later taken to the hospital for unrelated injuries. 

Police and the Fire Marshal's Office continue to investigate.

93-year-old man struck twice and killed by two hit-and-run vehicles in Brooklyn, New York


 
A man one month shy of his 94th birthday, was struck by two vehicles and killed in Brooklyn. Both drivers fled.
 
JUNE 24, 2015

NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) - 

A man one month shy of his 94th birthday, was struck by two vehicles and killed in Brooklyn. 

Both drivers fled.

The pedestrian was attempting to cross Albany Avenue in the middle of the block when he was struck at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The driver of a tractor trailer continued traveling after hitting the elderly man in Crown Heights, said police.

As the man lay in the street he was struck again by a four-door sedan. The driver of that vehicle stopped, approached the victim but then fled.

The pedestrian's name was not immediately released.

If you know anything about the hit-and-runs that could help police find the drivers, contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers at any of the following:

1-800-577-TIPS (8477)

WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

The NYPD says all calls/texts are strictly confidential.