A chemical leak and fire at two chemical plants on TX-146 forces evacuations at Mont Belvieu, TX

Chemical plant incidents prompt evacuations in Mont Belvieu





No injuries were reported after firefighters responded to two separate well incidents on Sunday.





Lauren Lea
Updated 1 hr 51 mins ago

MONT BELVIEU, TX (KTRK) -- Mont Belvieu emergency officials evacuated part of town as a precaution for several hours on Sunday after a chemical leak and fire at two chemical plants on TX-146 on Sunday. City Manager Bryan Easum said the leak at the LyondellBasell plant was a mix of brine water with hydrocarbon product.

Easum said there was also a fire at the neighboring Lone Star property, but could not provide further details other than to say the fire was extinguished Sunday afternoon.

VIDEO: Oil well burns in Mont Belvieu




The part of town known as "the Hill" was evacuated, which includes about 15-20 residences, Easum said. Traffic was rerouted from TX-146 and Highway 565 and Loop 207.

Easum said he was not sure if the leak and the fire were related in any way. He said 75 firefighters from Mont Belvieu and mutual aid first responders from area industrial plants. No one was hurt.



The cause of both incidents was unclear.

Lone Star spokesperson Vicki Granado said the fire was out and there were no injuries. She said the cause was under investigation and updates would be provided as information becomes available.


Statement from LyondellBasell:

Earlier today, monitors indicated a pressure build-up in a wellhead at our pipeline storage facility in Mont Belvieu off Highway 146. This well stores light hydrocarbons that are used in the manufacture of products such as rubber and tires. We are currently working to reduce the pressure. All employees have been accounted for and there were no injuries. Air monitoring shows no offsite impact.

We are working closely with local authorities and other area facilities to ensure continued safety of the public. We understand also that the City of Mont Belvieu has ordered evacuation of the immediate area. As a precautionary measure, of portions Highway 146 have been closed.

We also understand that there was a fire at the Lone Star facility in the area. This is not on LyondellBasell/Equistar property, and we understand that the fire is out and currently under investigation. The cause is unknown at this time.

Our Mont Belvieu Storage Facility is one of two storage locations operated by LyondellBasell's pipeline group in the Texas Gulf Coast region.

The 42-acre facility uses caverns in underground salt domes to store various feedstocks and refined products and distributes them via pipeline to other company facilities and several customers in the region.

-Faye Justice Eson, Senior Manager, Global External Communications at LyondellBasell

A police officer in Vass, NC injured after his cruiser flipped multiple times in an accident

Vass police officer injured after cruiser flips in crash



The police cruiser flipped at least twice (Cypress Pointe Fire)




Sunday, June 26, 2016 04:33PM
VASS, N.C. (WTVD) -- A police officer in Vass was taken to the hospital after his cruiser flipped multiple times in an accident Sunday.

It happened on NC 690 just before 11 a.m. while the officer was reportedly responding to a call.

The cruiser rolled several times before coming to a stop on its side.





Photo from the scene on NC 690 (image courtesy Aberdeen Times)

His injuries were reported to not be life threatening.

Responding to the accident were Cypress Pointe Fire & Rescue, Moore County EMS, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

No other information was immediately available.

An Amtrak train collided with a van killing five people, including three children, in Colorado

Train hits van in Colorado killing 5, including 3 children



An Amtrak spokeswoman said the train involved was the Southwest Chief, which travels between Chicago and Los Angeles. (KRDO-TV)




Updated 1 hr 22 mins ago
LAS ANIMAS COUNTY, Colo. -- Authorities are investigating after an Amtrak train collided with a van killing five people, including three children, in Colorado on Sunday morning.

The Colorado State Patrol released a statement saying a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country failed to yield right of way to the train and was struck at 9:45 a.m. just outside Trinidad. The van's driver and four of the passengers were killed.

The TV station Denver7 reports (http://bit.ly/28Wts7D ) that a Colorado State Trooper says a girl in the van was flown to Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, with serious injuries.

Authorities are not releasing the names of the occupants until after next of kin has been notified.

An Amtrak spokeswoman tells the station that more than 280 passengers were on board at the time of the crash and remain stranded in the area. No one on the train was injured.

She says the train involved was the Southwest Chief, which travels between Chicago and Los Angeles.

Authorities are investigating but neither alcohol nor drug use is suspected.

Seven people - including three children - were hospitalized after a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago

7 hospitalized in Dan Ryan Expressway crash near 79th Street



A two-vehicle crash occurred at about 2:30 p.m. June 26, 2016 in the inbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway near 79th Street.




Updated 25 mins ago
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Seven people - including three children - were hospitalized after a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway Sunday afternoon.

The crash happened at about 2:30 p.m. in the inbound lanes near 79th Street on the city's South Side. The driver of a SUV lost control of the vehicle and hit a wall.

Alcohol likely contributed to the crash, according to the Illinois State Police.

All seven occupants of the SUV sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

No one has been charged in the crash.

Two children were hurt when their ATV crashed in Seymour, Indiana

12-year-old seriously hurt in Brown County ATV crash

  By John Hanlon Published: June 25, 2016
 
Generic photo of fire truck and ambulance (WANE)

SEYMOUR, Ind. (WISH) — Two children were hurt when their ATV crashed in Seymour on Saturday afternoon.

A 12-year-old was driving a side-by-side style ATV in the 8000 block of Lutheran Lake Road when they lost control and the machine flipped onto its side, according to conservation officers.

A 16-year-old passenger was not hurt, but the 12-year-old was airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in serious condition with head and chest injuries.

Neither was wearing a helmet or seatbelt when the ATV crashed, according to officers.

The children have not been identified.

A 51-year-old Washington state man has died in an all-terrain vehicle crash in northern Idaho

Originally published June 26, 2016 at 10:54 am



Authorities say the 51-year-old Cheney man lost control of the ATV and struck a tree; an unidentified passenger was injured

KINGSTON, Idaho (AP) — A 51-year-old Washington state man has died in an all-terrain vehicle crash in northern Idaho.

KREM-TV reports that Thomas C. Schwartzenberger of Cheney lost control of the machine on Saturday on a turn and left the road.

Authorities say Schwartzenberger struck a tree and went down a long embankment where he struck another tree.

Police say he died in the crash.
Authorities say a 60-year-old woman riding on the ATV suffered injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

4 people were injured in an ATV crash in Pingree Park, CO

(Photo: KUSA)


PINGREE PARK, CO - The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office says four people were injured in an ATV crash in Pingree Park.

Just after 2 a.m., deputies responded to a crash and found two men and two women who were all injured. Three were treated and released and 24-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital.

The sheriff’s office says it appears that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The case is under investigation.

A John Deere lawn tractor collided with a motorcycle in Paulding County, Ohio, and the tractor's driver died in the crash

June 26, 2016 10:58 AM
Tractor driver dies in Paulding County crash
The Journal Gazette
A John Deere lawn tractor collided with a motorcycle Saturday afternoon in Paulding County, Ohio, and the tractor's driver died in the crash, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said today.

The crash happened at 3:50 p.m. on County Road 209 near Township Road 184, the highway patrol said in a statement.

It said motorcyclist Travis R. Urbina, 34, of Defiance, Ohio, was going south on County Road 209, as was a John Deere lawn tractor along the shoulder of the road driven by Lynn A Wickerham, 68, of Defiance.

Wickerham made a left turn, going into the southbound lane of the road and colliding with the motorcycle, the highway patrol said. Both men were ejected.

Wickerham died at the scene, the highway patrol said. Urbina, who was not wearing a helmet, had non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Defiance Regional Hospital.

Both the motorcycle and the lawn tractor were severely damaged in the crash, which remains under investigation.

A White Settlement, TX firefighter struck by a pickup driver while riding his motorcycle Saturday has died.

White Settlement fireman dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver in Fort Worth






Facebook photo.

Trevor Gage (right) was a firefighter in the Tarrant County city of White Settlement. He is survived by his wife, Brandie, and three young children.



By Naheed Rajwani Follow @naheedrajwani NRajwani@dallasnews.com

Staff writer

Published: 26 June 2016 09:37 AM
Updated: 26 June 2016 06:06 PM

Updated at 5 p.m.: Revised to include an updated description of the truck and damage it may have.

A White Settlement firefighter struck by a pickup driver while riding his motorcycle Saturday has died.

Authorities in Tarrant County are still looking for the driver, who could face charges in the death of Trevor Gage.

About 4:45 p.m., a black Ford F-150 Super Crew allegedly struck Gage's motorcycle along Spur 341 in west Fort Worth. Gage had surgery Saturday night for a head injury from the crash, White Settlement police said.

He was pronounced dead Sunday morning at a downtown Fort Worth hospital, the White Settlement Fire Department said in a Facebook post.

Gage was the sole provider for his wife and three young children. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family.



"Trevor was one to never get mad. Always ready to help others before himself. Dedicated father and fire fighter," one of his former colleagues wrote on Facebook. "... Such a great person with a heart to help everyone."


Authorities believe the hit-and-run driver was Latino with hair that was "slicked back," according to a DFW Scanner Facebook post that was shared by the White Settlement Police Officers Association.

Police believe the driver was in a 2010 to 2014 solid gloss black Ford F150 4-door truck that may be a Limited model. Witnesses told police there is a sticker in the bottom left corner of the truck tailgate.

The pickup may have scrape marks along the passenger side truck bed from the highway bars on the motorcycle. The truck most likely does not have front end damage, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call White Settlement police at 817-246-7070.

The community has supported the Gage family before.

In 2013, a local radio station chose the family for its Santa's Sparkle Christmas event, which included a free hotel stay and spa treatments at the Hilton Anatole.

Gage's son, Hunter, was born with an intestinal obstruction that required several surgeries. Gage took an unpaid leave of absence from work so he could spend time with his wife and baby at the hospital.

Hunter is now 2 years old. He requires a nurse for his day-to-day care at home, according to the GoFundMe page. His sisters are ages 14 and 8.

Gage's wife posted a photo with him on Facebook on Sunday, just hours before he was pronounced dead. "Pray for me," the photo caption read.

Staff writer Claire Cardona contributed to this report.

An FDNY truck collided with a MTA bus in Queens, leaving 12 people hurt, including 2 firefighters

FDNY truck collides with MTA bus in Queens; 12 hurt

CeFaan Kim has the latest from Astoria.

CeFaan Kim

Updated 2 hrs 53 mins ago

ASTORIA, Queens (WABC) --

An FDNY truck responding to a fire collided with a MTA bus in Queens Sunday afternoon, leaving 12 people hurt, including 2 firefighters and bus passengers.



The accident happened at the intersection of Ditmars Blvd and 21st Street in Astoria. The MTA bus ended up on the sidewalk, just feet from going into a storefront, and narrowly missing people eating at an outdoor café on the corner. The bus crashed into two parked cars, which prevented it from going into a building.


"It sounded like a bomb. It was a humungous sound. We were so afraid, we came running to see what happened," said Laura Milander.

The accident happened just before 12:30 Sunday as the bus was heading down 21st Street, and the fire truck was coming down Ditmars Blvd. The firefighters were heading to a fire about half a dozen blocks from the crash scene.



According to witnesses, there were pregnant women and young children on the bus.

"The driver of that truck was hanging outside the window. I immediately ran over to try to hold him up. He was bleeding. I was holding him up while the other firefighter came around to try to open the door, because at that time, the truck started rolling, so I was holding him. I was moving with him," said Anthony Pace.

Everyone who was injured is expected to be okay.

The fire down the street was brought under control, with no reported injuries there.

With the Expanded Panama Canal, Risk accumulation will increase

By MarEx 2016-06-26 20:31:19

The Panama Canal accounts for roughly five percent of world sea trade, and the expanded Panama Canal is estimated to generate a three percent increase in cargo volumes transiting the Canal. 
The value of insured goods transported will increase with the expanded Canal. This could result in an additional $1.25 billion in insured goods passing through the Canal per day. Risk accumulation will increase, says Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) in a newly released report on the Panama Canal expansion project.
“With the increase in size of vessels transiting the Canal, you have a corresponding increase in operational, environmental and commercial risks,” says Andrew Kinsey, Senior Marine Risk Consultant at AGCS. Bigger ships automatically pose greater risks in that the sheer amount of cargo carried dictates that a serious casualty has the potential to lead to a sizable loss and greater disruption. Increasing traffic of bigger ships means the amount of diesel and petroleum being transported could also pose a heightened pollution risk in the event of a casualty.
Casualties
The Panama Canal has seen 121 reported shipping casualties (incidents) over the past 20 years with its safety record having improved significantly over the past decade in particular (24 casualties). These incidents have resulted in just four reported total losses since 1996.The Canal has only seen one double-digit year of casualties this century (2006). Two casualties were reported in 2015.
Collisions involving vessels (38) and contact with walls (34) have been the main drivers of shipping casualties over the past 20 years, collectively accounting for 60 percent of incidents. Machinery damage/failure is the third most frequent cause of incidents (23), accounting for 19 percent.
Given that the new locks will not be using the traditional “mules” but rather tugs which will be in the lock chamber with the vessel that is locking through, there is the potential for increased contact with the lock walls, states the report. There is also the risk of grounding, either as a result of equipment failure along the canal or a casualty on the ship. 
Salvage limitations
There is particular concern surrounding the salvage limitations for the latest generation of container ships. In the event of an accident in the surrounding region, there may be an insufficient number of qualified, experienced salvage experts available to handle the New Panamax ships due to merger and acquisition activity and economic pressures, states AGCS.
The potential impact of any shipping incident is much wider than just impeding progress through the Panama Canal, the report states. With more larger ships on the move in the surrounding region any incident could also impede traffic at major ports in the U.S. and elsewhere, resulting in a potential increase in business interruption losses.
Ports’ exposure
Sixty percent of the Panama Canal traffic either begins or ends in U.S. ports. AGCS sees a potential risk from the higher concentrations of insured goods that will be transported on bigger ships, which will call in at U.S. ports and terminals, many of which are exposed to hurricanes. For example, a large portion of Superstorm Sandy losses in 2012 were due to storm surge that flooded ports in the Northeast region.
According to AGCS’ Safety and Shipping Review 2016, meteorological predictions anticipate more extreme weather conditions, bringing additional safety risks for shipping and potential disruption to supply chains. Hurricanes and bad weather were contributing factors to at least three of the five largest vessels lost during 2015.
Risk Reduction
Conversely, the prospect of an expanded all-water route from Asia to the U.S. East/Gulf coasts could actually lead to a risk reduction in another area because containers will no longer need to be moved/reloaded onto trains. The fewer times a container is handled, the lower the risk of damage.

More than 50 million cubic feet of earth needed to be moved as part of the Panama Canal expansion project

Engineering the Panama Canal Expansion

By MarEx 2016-06-26 19:47:30

More than 50 million cubic feet of earth needed to be moved as part of the Panama Canal expansion project which consisted of four main sub-projects:
1. Third Set of Locks
The project entails the construction of Neopanamax-dimension lock complexes on the Pacific and Atlantic sides. Each complex features three chambers, nine water-saving basins, a lateral filling and emptying system and rolling gates.
2. Pacific Access Channel
Executed in four phases, the project entailed the dry excavation of some 50 million cubic meters of material along a 6.1-kilometer (3.8-mile) span. The main concept was the creation of a new access channel north of the Third Set of Locks on the Pacific side.
3. Navigation Channel improvements
This component involved dredging of the Canal entrances in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the existing navigation channels in Culebra Cut and Gatun Lake.
4. Improvements to Water Supply
The work enabled raising Gatun Lake’s maximum operating level by 45 centimeters (18 inches) to improve Canal water supply and draft dependability. Water has always been a critical resource to the Panama Canal, and the addition of the third set of locks created a greater need for even more water to make the expansion program possible. 
In order to properly maintain and sustain this valuable resource for centuries to come, the Panama Canal designed and installed a total of 18 water-saving basins at the Expanded locks. Each of the massive basins has a surface area of 25 Olympic-size pools that utilizes state-of-the-art technology to allow the Canal to reuse 60 percent of the water per transit.


The Borinquen Dam
Work to expand the Panama Canal officially began on September 3, 2007, with dry excavations to create the channel that would link the Third Set of Locks on the Pacific side to Culebra Cut. 
A crucial part of this project involves the construction of a dam known as Borinquen 1E. The dam is located west of Pedro Miguel Locks. It measures 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) long and allows the operation of the new channel nine meters above the existing level. 
Dry-excavation activities in this area called for the clearing of 461 hectares contaminated with unexploded ordnance. The Panama Canal Authority found a way to use much of the extra material that was excavated for the expansion to safely bury a number of unexploded munitions left behind by U.S. soldiers more than 60 years ago, effectively using one problem to solve another.
Construction of Borinquen 1E dam clay core was completed in June 2015. In July 2015 an excavation record of 1.5 million cubic meters of material was reached, and flooding of the channel began in September 2015. The channel reached the level of Gatun Lake in November 2015, and due to requirements it was filled to its maximum level of 27.19 meters (89.2 feet).
Gatun Spillway
The Atlantic Entrance
The contract for dredging works for the Atlantic entrance was awarded to Belgian contractor Jan De Nul on September 25, 2009. Dredging was conducted in a 13.8-kilometer (8.6-mile) extension to widen the existing Atlantic entrance to a minimum of 225 meters (738 feet), as well as the north access channel to the new Agua Clara Locks to a minimum of 218 meters (715 feet). An option for further dredging up to 16.1 meters (53 feet) was executed, which represented an additional 2.3 million cubic meters of material. 
The contractor deployed several dredges simultaneously along the area, including hopper dredge Filippo Brunelleschi and cutter suction dredge Marco Polo. Dredging operations concluded on January 30, 2013, with Neopanamax size dredge Charles Darwin removing the remaining shoals in the new expanded channel.
The Pacific Entrance
The contract for dredging the Pacific entrance was awarded on April 7, 2008, to Belgian company Dredging International Panama. The work consisted of widening the navigation channel on the Pacific entrance to a minimum of 225 meters (738 feet) and deepening it to 15.5 meters (50.9 feet) below mean low water springs, as well as partial construction of the south access to the Cocoli Locks. World-renown high-tech, powerful equipment including dredges D’Artagnan, Vlaanderen XIX and Lange Wapper were used in the project.
Culebra Cut
The Culebra Cut and Gatun Lake project entailed the removal of underwater material to deepen and widen the navigation channels in Gatun Lake and to deepen the navigation channel in Culebra Cut. Work in the Cut was completed at the end of 2012, and dredging works at Gatun Lake were completed on January 31, 2015.
The work included installation of 34 new navigational towers along the 38 kilometers (24 miles) of Gatun Lake, from Gamboa to the locks on the Atlantic side. These towers, which use LED- and PEL-type lights, replace light houses, are part of the Panama Canal Authority’s plans for enhancing safe navigation at the waterway in conjunction with the six towers that were built in the area of the new Pacific Access Channel.
The third set of lochs
At a cost of $3.2 billion, the contract was executed by consortium Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPCSA). The consortium is formed by Sacyr Vallehermoso from Spain; Impregilo from Italy; Jan de Nul from Belgium and Constructora Urbana from Panama. The project entailed the design and construction of two similar lock complexes, one on the Pacific and the other on the Atlantic side. Each has three chambers, nine water-saving basins, a lateral filling and emptying system and a redundant system of rolling gates. 
To build the new locks, the contractor installed industrial parks at each site for concrete and aggregate production. The basalt rock extracted from the Pacific site excavations was used as aggregate and sand for concrete mixes at both sites. 
The design and fabrication of the different components was a worldwide project. In Italy, Cimolai fabricated the 16 gates. South Korean-based Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries fabricated 158 valves, 84 bulkheads and 328 trash racks.
The Gates
The rolling gates system was one of the most significant elements of the locks design and construction, at a cost of $547.7 million, which included fabrication, shipment and installation. Each gate will open and close in four and not more than five minutes. 
The six different types of gates were fabricated with features that vary according to where they are installed. For instance, the tallest ones – 33.04 meters (108.4 feet) – are installed at the Pacific entrance to the Canal, to withstand significant tidal variation. Even though the heaviest gates are 4,242 tons, their design incorporates buoyancy chambers to enable them to move on rails at 15 percent of their actual weight.
 
More information is available here.

The Coast Guard medevaced a fisherman from the 79-foot fishing vessel Pacific Star near Kodiak, Alaska after he was struck in the head by deck rigging

Coast Guard medevacs injured fisherman near Kodiak, Alaska
Jun 25th, 2016 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard medevaced a 26-year-old fisherman from the 79-foot fishing vessel Pacific Star approximately 74 miles southeast of the city of Kodiak, Alaska, Saturday.

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the injured fisherman and transported him to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at the Kodiak Airport.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received the call for assistance at approximately 11:03 a.m. from the operator of the Pacific Star that a deckhand had been struck in the head by deck rigging and needed medical attention. Watchstanders consulted the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac. The Jayhawk helicopter crew was dispatched to the scene.

“The Coast Guard provides a critical link to lifesaving medical services for mariners with medical emergencies,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Lindsey Green, a Sector Anchorage watchstander. “The capabilities of our helicopters allow us to retrieve and deliver patients to EMS; reducing the time it takes for patients to receive medical care.”

Weather on scene was reported as 6-foot seas with 29 mph winds.



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

Coast Guard medevacs injured fisherman near Kodiak, Alaska


June 26, 2016

 

The Coast Guard medevaced a 26-year-old fisherman from the 79-foot fishing vessel Pacific Star approximately 74 miles southeast of the city of Kodiak, Alaska, Saturday. 

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the injured fisherman and transported him to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at the Kodiak Airport. 

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received the call for assistance at approximately 11:03 a.m. from the operator of the Pacific Star that a deckhand had been struck in the head by deck rigging and needed medical attention. 

Watchstanders consulted the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac. The Jayhawk helicopter crew was dispatched to the scene. Click here to watch the video 12:03

Coast Guard medevaced a man Saturday from the chemical tanker Buccoo Reef off Virginia Beach

Coast Guard medevacs man from tanker off Virginia Beach
Jun 25th, 2016

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a man Saturday from a tanker off Virginia Beach.

Coast Guard watchstanders at the 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth received a call from the 574-foot, Japanese-flagged chemical tanker Buccoo Reef at about 2:30 a.m., stating a crewman was experiencing chest pains approximately 10 miles southeast of Cape Henry.

An MH-60 Jayhawker helicopter crew launched from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, at about 4:35 a.m.

The crew arrived on scene with Buccoo Reef at about 5:05 a.m. and hoisted the man aboard the helicopter.

The crew then transported him to Sentara Norfolk Hospital in Norfolk, arriving at about 5:40 a.m.

He was reported to be in stable condition.

1 injured after a milk truck overturns several times north of Columbia, Kansas

KSP INVESTIGATES VEHICLE COLLISION INVOLVING MILK TRUCK
on 06/25/2016
 

Kentucky State Police investigated a two vehicle injury collision involving a milk truck on Bull Run Road 2 miles north of Columbia Friday morning at 8 a.m.

Preliminary investigations indicate 22 year-old Brian Dewitt of Knifley, KY was operating a 2006 Chevrolet north on Bull Run Road, when he crossed the center line striking a 2001 Kenworth milk truck being operated by 58 year-old Larry Bland of Liberty, KY. Dewitt struck the rear axles of the milk truck causing him to overturn multiple times.

Dewitt was flown from TJ Samson Hospital to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, TN by Air Evac 43 with non-life threatening injuries. Bland was wearing his seat belt and was not injured in the collision. Speed is said to be a factor in the collision.

Sr. Officer Derek Cundiff investigated the collision and was assisted by Adair County Sheriff’s Office, EMS and Air Evac 43.

1 Man Dies In Route 70 Collision With Sod Truck in Manchester, NJ

 



The crash closed Route 70 in the area for several hours, police said.





Manchester, NJ

By Karen Wall (Patch Staff) - June 25, 2016 10:24 am ET 

 Manchester, NJ -- A Whiting man was killed Friday morning when his car and a sod truck collided on Route 70, Manchester police said Saturday.

Theodore Chandler, 87, of Whiting, was killed in the crash that happened about 10:35 a.m., Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Chandler, driving a silver 2013 Kia Soul, was trying to make a left turn from Pleasant Valley Road onto Route 70 west when his car was hit on the driver's side by a red 2000 GMC flatbed loaded with sod driven by Robert Wimbush, 56, of Staten Island, who was eastbound on Route 70 at the time, Malland said.

The force of the impact resulted in both vehicles crossing into the westbound lane of Route 70 and running off the road onto the front lawn of a nearby property, he said.
 
A photo provided by Manchester Township police shows the impact between a sod truck and a Kia Soul that killed a Manchester man on Friday, June 24.

Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts, Malland said, and Wimbush was not injured. Chandler had to be extricated from his car, Malland said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

The investigation is still ongoing, but driver error on the part of the operator of the Kia appears to be the contributing factor, Malland said.


The road was closed and a detour was established for several hours following the crash. Assisting at the scene were members of the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, the Department of Transportation Emergency Response Team as well as paramedics from MONOC. Also, assisting at the scene with the investigation were officers from the New Jersey State Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Team, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office.


Patrolman Antonio Ellis and Patrolman Paul Bachovchin of the Manchester Township Police Traffic Safety Unit are investigating.

“Operation Crash & Buy” Results in Charges Against Defendants In Four Counties For Allegedly Purchasing Insurance After Their Vehicles Were Damaged Or Stolen And Then Making False Claims

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Arrests Of Six Individuals Charged With Auto Insurance Fraud


“Operation Crash & Buy” Results in Charges Against Defendants In Four Counties For Allegedly Purchasing Insurance After Their Vehicles Were Damaged Or Stolen And Then Making False Claims

Schneiderman: False Claims Like These Affect Hardworking New York Residents By Driving Up The Cost Of Auto Insurance

NEW YORK—Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today the arrests of six individuals for allegedly purchasing automobile insurance policies after their vehicles had already sustained damage or been stolen, and then falsifying the dates of the incidents in claims submitted to their insurance carriers. The defendants were arrested yesterday and today on felony complaints filed in Queens, Kings, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The charges are the result of “Operation Crash & Buy,” a pro-active investigation initiated by the Attorney General’s Auto Insurance Fraud Unit (“AIFU”) in conjunction with the New York State Department of Financial Service’s Criminal Investigations Unit, Insurance Frauds Bureau and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The joint investigation targeted fraudulent claims made to auto insurance carriers for damage and thefts that occurred before the policy effective dates.

“False claims affect hardworking New York residents by driving up the cost of auto insurance,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “Insurance fraud is a crime, and anyone thinking about making a false insurance claim should consider the consequences of their actions. My office will remain vigilant in identifying and prosecuting these cases.”

“Scams like those allegedly uncovered by this joint investigation needlessly drive up auto insurance premiums for innocent New Yorkers,” said Maria T. Vullo, Superintendent of Financial Services. “This case should serve as a warning that unscrupulous individuals attempting to game the system will be caught and prosecuted.”

“The National Insurance Crime Bureau would like to applaud the staff of the New York State Attorney General’s Office for their continued efforts in addressing insurance fraud in New York State,” said Kevin Gallagher, Regional Director of the Northeast Region of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. “The cost of insurance fraud is shared by all consumers, and this investigation sends a strong message to others who may be contemplating engaging in insurance fraud. We look forward to our continued partnership in combatting insurance fraud for all New Yorkers.”

According to the Attorney General’s felony complaints, each of the defendants owned a vehicle that had been either damaged or reported stolen prior to being covered by insurance. The defendants allegedly purchased collision or comprehensive insurance coverage after the fact, and then filed false claims with the insurance companies stating that the incidents occurred after the policies were in effect.

The individuals charged include:
Curlan Peters, 29, of Brooklyn, who allegedly was involved in car accident in his 2010 Nissan on March 7, 2015, added collision coverage five days later, and then falsely submitted a property damage claim for over $6,000 in which he stated that the accident occurred on March 24, 2015. When his first claim was denied, Peters allegedly purchased coverage from a second insurance company in May 2015 and then falsely submitted another claim for the same damage in July 2015. Peters is charged in Kings County with two counts of Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count of Insurance Fraud in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, three counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, and one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.
Shareen McIntosh, 31, of Brooklyn, who allegedly was involved in a car accident in her 2006 Porsche Cayenne on March 28, 2015, added collision coverage minutes after the accident, then claimed that the accident occurred hours later. McIntosh is charged in Kings County with one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, and one count of Insurance Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Jacqueline Cadeau, 26, of Hempstead, who allegedly was involved in a car accident in her 2012 Honda Civic on March 22, 2015, purchased comprehensive and collision coverage in in April 2015, and then submitted a claim stating that the damage had occurred on April 21, 2015. Cadeau is charged in Nassau County with one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, and one count of Insurance Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Shimon Schmulian, 25, of Great Neck, who allegedly damaged his 2014 BMW after hitting a pothole in February 2014, thereafter changed his deductible from $1,000 to $500, and then submitted a claim in which he stated that the damage occurred the following day. Schumulian is charged in Nassau County with one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, and one count of Insurance Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Markapril Dungca, 27, of Queens Village, who allegedly purchased collision coverage on May 14, 2015 after his 2007 Toyota Camry was damaged on the street and then made a property damage claim. Dungca is charged in Queens County with one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, and one count of Insurance Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Debra Spraggins, 44, of Selden, who allegedly added comprehensive coverage to her 2005 Dodge Neon in August 2014 after it sustained water damage, and then made a claim for over $2,900 in which she stated her car was flooded five days after the policy effective date. Spraggins is charged in Suffolk County with one count of Insurance Fraud in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, and one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony.

The Attorney General thanked the New York State Department of Financial Services, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, GEICO, Progressive, USAA and 21st Century for their valuable assistance in this investigation.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Wesley Cheng with the assistance of Supervising Legal Analyst Paul Strocko and Legal Analyst Yuriy Kurbatov of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau’s Auto Insurance Fraud Unit. The Auto Insurance Fraud Unit is led by Chief Joseph D’Arrigo. The Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Gary T. Fishman and Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.

The Attorney General's investigation was conducted by Investigators Severino Concordia and Brian Maher of the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, under the direction of Supervising Investigators Edward Keegan and Natalie Shifrin and Deputy Chief Leonard D'Alessandro. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella.

1 dead, 1 injured in motorcycle crash in Chaffee County, CO

Courtesy: MGN Online


By KKTV |
Posted: Sun 6:11 AM, Jun 26, 2016



CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) Colorado State Patrol said one person is dead after a crash at the intersection of Highway 285 and Chaffee County Road 140 on Saturday afternoon.

Troopers say a car driven by Adrian Flores, 17, of Northglenn, was headed westbound on Chaffee County Road when it struck a motorcycle headed southbound on Highway 285.

The motorcycle swerved to miss the car and flipped. Two people on it were thrown in the crash.

The driver of the motorcycle, Donald Vsetecka, 70, of Green Mountain Falls, was taken to Rockies Hospital in Salida. His condition is not known.

A woman passenger, identified only as 57 years old, also from Green Mountain Falls, died on scene.

Troopers say neither Vsetecka or his passenger were wearing a helmet.

Flores and two other people in her car were all wearing seatbelts and were not hurt. She was cited for careless driving causing death, troopers said.

The crash remained under investigation, as of Sunday morning. Speed or alcohol or drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash.

2 Pedestrians injured, cars damaged at State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, CO; Driver arrested for DUI

Credit: Kodie Edwards


Posted: Sat 7:50 PM, Jun 25, 2016 |
Updated: Sat 8:16 PM, Jun 25, 2016

 
PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) -- Two pedestrians were hurt and several cars were damaged when a driver lost control during the Street Rod show at the State Fairgrounds in Pueblo on Saturday. Deputies say alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash.

Deputies say Patricia Held, 63, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and careless driving causing bodily injury.

It happened around 3 p.m. Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Street Rod National Show at the Colorado State Fairgrounds.

The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office says Held was driving when she suddenly accelerated and hit a woman and three other cars.

Officials say the pedestrian was taken to the hospital. We don't know the extent of her injuries at this time.

Another girl had minor injuries after a tire rolled over her foot from one of the vehicles that was struck, according to authorities.

Officials say Held also suffered minor injuries.

Deputies say all four vehicles involved in the incident were part of the Street Rod show, which is being held at the fairgrounds this weekend. The event went on as normal.

Police officer, 5 EMS/Good Samaritans injured when impaired driver plows into I-10 crash scene in Baton Rouge, LA and then fled the scene

 
A Baton Rouge police officer, two Acadian Ambulance EMTs, two Good Samaritans and another driver were seriously hurt early Sunday morning when a driver possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol crashed through a single-vehicle crash scene, according to police. (Photo from Louisiana Department of Transportation video)




ADVOCATE STAFF REPORT

June 26, 2016; 8:29 a.m.



A Baton Rouge police officer, two Acadian Ambulance EMTs, two Good Samaritans and another driver were seriously hurt early Sunday morning when a driver possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol plowed through a single-vehicle crash scene, according to police.

BRPD spokesman L’Jean Mckneely said the six injured, plus the driver, were transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, and that everyone injured is expected to survive. The driver's injuries were minor, he said.

Around 1:15 a.m. on I-10 East at the I-12 split in Baton Rouge, Mckneely said a 24-year-old driver in a 2003 Mazda 6 hit a guardrail. Two others saw the accident and stopped to help. With EMS and police at the scene, a 26-year-old driver in a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado drove through the accident scene, hitting the Mazda 6 and four people, then fleeing the scene and hitting two others. Officers chased the driver and caught him.

The BRPD officer, driver of the Mazda 6, one EMT and one Good Samaritan were hit by the Silverado in the initial impact. Another EMT and the other Good Samaritan were hit as the Silverado fled the scene.

Mckneely said the possibly impaired driver refused a breathalyzer test, but blood was drawn at the hospital for a toxicology test.

JEEP PASSENGER DIED AFTER IT ROLLED ONTO HIM DURING OFF-ROAD EXCURSION IN WA

JUNE 26, 2016

THURSTON COUNTY, WA


A Thurston County man is dead after a Jeep Cherokee he was riding in fell on top of him Saturday.

According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred during an off-road excursion.

Four people were in the Jeep at the time of the accident.


Authorities said that when the Jeep got stuck in a deep puddle, the driver hit the gas, causing the SUV to hit a stump.

The Jeep rolled onto the man after hitting the stump. The man died on-scene, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The driver of the car flagged down a passing vehicle to call 911.

Authorities said the Jeep’s driver had minor injuries. Another woman in the Jeep had broken bones. Another passenger reported minor injuries.

All four occupants were younger than 31 years of age and were Thurston County locals, the Sheriff’s Office said. The driver is being investigated for DUI homicide.

Two men dead after Porsche hits tree, slides down embankment in Maple Valley, WA

Updated: Jun 26, 2016 - 12:27 AM © 2016 Cox Media Group. Photo courtesy of the King County Sheriff's Office.


MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. —

The King County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal accident Saturday after a car slammed into a tree and slid down an embankment in Maple Valley.

Two men died in the crash, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The vehicle, a silver Porche, appears to have heavy damage to the roof and front end.

The incident occurred near Southeast 288th and Black Diamond Road Southeast.

Speed is a likely factor. No further details have been released.

4 boaters injured after a hit-and-run boat crash in Vilano Beach, Florida

4 injured in overnight Vilano Beach boat crash
FWC: 2 people taken to hospital
By News4Jax.com Staff Posted: 6:17 AM, June 26, 2016 Updated: 7:28 AM, June 26, 2016


VILANO BEACH, Fla. - Four boaters have been injured, two of which hospitalized, after a hit-and-run boat crash in Vilano Beach, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The crash happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night near the Vilano Beach Bridge.

Investigators said a ski boat hit a smaller boat, with the four people on board, and kept going. The owner of the ski boat has been located and is being questioned by FWC.

Of the two people taken to the hospital, one had to have part of their leg amputated.

We have a crew on the scene and will update this article as more information becomes available.

Salvors Continue Removing Oil from Grounded MV Benita on the coast of Le Bouchon, Mauritius

Image Courtesy: Youtube/l'express

Some 80 tonnes of the remaining fuel oil have been extracted from the heavily grounded bulker MV Benita on the coast of Le Bouchon, Mauritius, while over 60 more tonnes remains to be removed from the vessel’s tanks.

The fuel has been pumped into specialised one tonne containers and transported to a secure location on shore via helicopter, the Greek company Five Oceans Salvage, which is in charge of the salvage operation, said.

Five Oceans Salvage added that no further oil sheens have been observed in the vicinity of the 44,183 dwt ship, however, booms and other anti-pollution measures remain in place as a precaution.

An oil spill which was earlier spotted in the area had been put under control.

Despite inclement weather conditions which hampered initial oil pumping operations, the salvage teams managed to continue with the works, while salvage divers carried out a number of dive inspections in order to further assess the extent of the damage.

The company earlier said that although a number of tanks aboard the ship were damaged and flooded, the MV Benita “appears to be stable and remains firmly aground.”

Together with the vessel’s owners and the authorities, the salvage firm continues developing plans for the eventual re-floating and removal of the bulker, however, the efforts to free the 1998-built vessel could take over a month to complete.

The tug Ionian Sea FOS remains on site, and a further tug, Coral Sea FOS, is en route and is scheduled to arrive next week.

The bulker ran into trouble following a fight between two of the seafarers onboard. One of the sailors was seriously injured, while the other hid in the engine room, where he reportedly cut all the vessel systems leaving MV Benita adrift.

“The fourth engineer has been hospitalised and authorities are waiting for him to regain consciousness so he can help with inquiries. He is said to be able to provide vital clues in the case,” Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) Port Louis chaplain, Fr Jacques-Henri David, said.

He added that one seafarer was in custody and two others are on board the ship, working with the salvage company, while the captain and the rest of the seafarers are being cared for by the Philippines Consulate.

TransCanada Seeks $15 Billion in Damages After Keystone Rejection

By MarEx 2016-06-25 19:51:36

TransCanada Corp is formally requesting arbitration over U.S. President Barack Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, seeking $15 billion in damages, the company said in legal papers dated Friday.

TransCanada submitted a notice for an arbitration claim in January and had then tried to negotiate with the U.S. government to "reach an amicable settlement," the company said in files posted on the pipeline's website.

"Unfortunately, the parties were unable to settle the dispute."

TransCanada said it then filed its formal arbitration request under North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provisions, seeking to recover what it says are costs and damages.

The Keystone XL was designed to link existing pipeline networks in Canada and the United States to bring crude from Alberta and North Dakota to refineries in Illinois and, eventually, the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Obama rejected the cross-border crude oil pipeline last November, seven years after it was first proposed, saying it would not make a meaningful long-term contribution to the U.S. economy.

TransCanada is suing the United States in federal court in a separate legal action, seeking to reverse the pipeline's rejection.

NAFTA, whose arbitration provisions allow companies to challenge governments before international panels, has been a target of recent anti-free-trade sentiments in the United States.

The heads of NAFTA members, Canada, the United States and Mexico, are expected to meet in Ottawa for a North American leaders' Summit on June 29.

Canada was supposed to host the meeting early last year but canceled it amid tension between then Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Obama over the Keystone XL pipeline.

TransCanada and the U.S. Department of Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mexican Contract

Earlier this month, TransCanada announced that its joint venture with IEnova, Infraestructura Marina del Golfo (IMG), has been chosen to build, own and operate the US$2.1 billion Sur de Texas-Tuxpan natural gas pipeline in Mexico.

TransCanada expects to invest approximately US$1.3 billion in the partnership to construct the 42-inch diameter, approximately 800-kilometre (497-mile) pipeline and anticipates an in-service date of late 2018. The pipeline will begin offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, at the border point near Brownsville, Texas and end in Tuxpan, in the state of Veracruz.

The project will be supported by a 25-year natural gas transportation service contract for 2.6 billion cubic feet a day with the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), Mexico's state-owned power company.

1 man was killed when his motorcycle was hit head-on by an alleged drunk driver in Rehoboth, Mass.

 
Coolcaesar/Wikimedia Commons

Motorcyclist killed by alleged drunken driver in Rehobath
Jeffery H. Fisk Jr., 40, of Rehoboth, charged
UPDATED 9:41 AM EDT Jun 26, 2016 

 REHOBOTH, Mass. —A Seekonk man was killed when his motorcycle was hit head-on by an alleged drunk driver Saturday afternoon.

Emergency crews went to the crash site on Agricultural Avenue in Rehoboth just after 2:30 p.m.

When they arrived, they found the motorcycle driver, a 63-year-old Seekonk man, lying in the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said he was hit head-on by a truck driven by Jeffery H. Fisk Jr., 40, of Rehoboth.

He was arrested and when he was released from a hospital he was taken to the police department.

Fisk was charged with homicide by motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.

He is being held in jail on $100,040 bail and will appear in Taunton District Court on Monday.

The crash remains under investigation.

1 motorcyclist killed, another injured after a tractor trailer hit two cycles in the emergency lane turnaround on US 30 in Ohio

Stark County 3-vehicle fatal crash

Motorcycle helmets were not in use by any of the motorcycle occupants.
WKYC Staff , WKYC 11:31 PM. EST June 25, 2016



 
(Photo: WKYC)


PERRY TOWNSHIP, OHIO - The Ohio Highway Patrol is investigating a 3-vehicle fatal crash that occurred just after 9 a.m. Saturday westbound on US 30.

According to the OSHP, a 2009 Volvo tractor trailer was traveling westbound in the left lane of US 30.

A 2012 and a 2013 Harley Davidson were both stopped in the emergency turnaround on US 30. The tractor trailer drove off the left side of the roadway into the median, striking both motorcycles in the emergency turnaround.

The tractor trailer was being operated by Michael Smelik Jr., 53, of Road Bexar, Texas. Smelik was not injured and safety restraint was in use.

The 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle was being operated by Darryl L. Elliot, 50, of Alliance.

Elliot was taken to Aultman Hospital by Canton Township Fire Department. His passenger, Marcy J. Simchak, 41, also of Alliance, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead by the Stark County Coroner’s office.

The 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle was being operated by Joshua D. Elliot, 31, of Alliance and he sustained minor injuries and was not taken to the hospital.

His passenger, Amanda G. Elliot, 29, of Alliance, was not taken to the hospital either.

Motorcycle helmets were not in use by any of the motorcycle occupants.

Perry Township Fire department, O.D.O.T and Stark County R.E.A.C.T assisted at the scene. Both east and westbound lanes of US 30 were reduced to one lane for several hours.

The crash currently remains under investigation. Alcohol is not a factor in the crash.

One person was injured in a house fire in Haverford Township, Delaware County, PA

One person was injured in a house fire in Haverford Township, Delaware County. (WPVI)





Saturday, June 25, 2016 11:59PM

HAVERFORD TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- One person was injured in a house fire in Haverford Township, Delaware County.

The fire started around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the 2700 block of Belmont Avenue.

Officials reported heavy fire showing from the third floor of a three-story twin house on arrival.








Firefighters battled a house fire in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania.

It took almost an hour to bring the fire under control, which damaged both houses, officials say.

One person was taken to Crozier-Chester Medical Center. No word on their condition at this time.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.