Massive chemical spill at MGP Ingredients in Atchinson causes evacuations in Kansas

(michaelmeixner9/Twitter)


Massive chemical spill at MGP Ingredients in Atchinson causes evacuations in Kansas

Updated: Friday, October 21, 2016 @ 12:50 PM
Published: Friday, October 21, 2016 @ 12:35 PM
By: Theresa Seiger - Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A plume of leaked chemicals enveloped a Kansas city Friday morning after a major chemical spill was reported, prompting city officials to order residents to shelter in place and ask visitors to stay away.


The spill was reported at MGP Ingredients in Atchinson, between 10th and 14th streets, south of Main Street. City officials warned residents to keep windows closed, furnaces off and themselves indoors.

"If you are not in Atchison, please stay out of town," Atchison County emergency management officials said.



Medical officials at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri, said in a statement that they were made aware of the chemical spill around 9 a.m. CDT.

The plume "covered good portions of the city throughout the morning," but dissapted steadily, Atchinson City Manager Trey Cocking said. People were being allowed back into their homes within about three hours of the initial report, which was made around 8 a.m.

At least 18 people were treated for "respiratory discomfort," five of which were city employees, Cocking said. All the injuries appeared to be minor.

City officials told KSHB that the chemical leaked appeared to be airborne chlorine powder, however; MGP officials did not immediately confirm the substance.



"The plume developed when two chemicals were mixed with each other," Cocking said. "It appears inadvertantly and during the delivery process. ... One chemical was (delivered) and inadvertantly put in the wrong holding tank, which caused the reaction."

Authorities did not immediately identify the mixed chemicals. City officials are working with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Chlorine can be damaging if inhaled. It can cause airway irritation, wheezing, difficulty breathing and skin irritation, among other things.



The company involved in the leak produces distilled alcohol products, industrial alcohol and wheat proteins and starches, according to its website.
Atchinson is a city on the Missouri River, about 50 miles northwest of Kansas City.

102 people have been treated after a major chemical spill at MGP Ingredients Inc. in Atchison, Kansas.

Chemical leak spread through the air





KSHB

  
 

ATCHISON, Kan. - Emergency management said 102 people have been treated after a major chemical spill at MGP Ingredients Inc. in Atchison, Kansas.


According to the Atchison City Manager's Office, sodium hydrochlorite, also known as sodium hypochlorite, and sulfuric acid were inadvertently mixed together in the wrong holding tank Friday morning, which caused a reaction.

The chemical release occurred at 8 a.m. Friday. As of 11 a.m., based on observations by local officials, the emissions had dispersed, according to a news release from MGP.

MGP Ingredients said in a news release it has reported the event to the EPA and Kansas and local authorities, and it "is cooperating fully to investigate and ensure that all appropriate response actions are taken."

MGP has also asked outside experts to assist the investigation and response.

The impact of the chemical plume on Atchison, Kansas

Officials said 102 people were treated after the incident. They said 72 were treated locally and 30 more were treated regionally.

Three patients were admitted to the Atchison Hospital. One is in the ICU in stable condition.

Most patients have been treated, observed and released.

One patient was transferred to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for heart problems relating to the chemical spill.

The Atchison Hospital said if you have a headache, sore throat or a mild cough to take a shower, stay in cool air and take Benadryl. If you are wheezing or have an excessive cough, please go to the emergency room.

The city said the air is now safe to breathe.

Around 11,000 Atchison residents were urged to take shelter inside for nearly two hours.

41 Action News spoke to Dr. Bill Barkman, a pulmonologist at the University of Kansas Medical Hospital, about the chemical spill. Watch the interview in the video player below.

What happens when sodium hydrochlorite and sulfuric acid mix?

Sodium hydrochlorite is a stabilized form of chlorine. For example, the chlorine bleach you use in your home is only about 3 percent to 6 percent sodium hydrochlorite and is mixed with water.

Sulfuric acid is an extremely corrosive oxidizer. Almost every industry uses sulfuric acid to make hundreds of different chemical mixtures. It’s commonly used in metal processing and in cleaning the surface of steel sheet.

When mixed together, the two chemicals create a very toxic chlorine gas.

According to the CDC, it is very unstable and can react with a variety of different chemicals and water when released into the environment.

Chlorine is also broken down by sunlight, which could explain why the gas reportedly dispersed later in the day.

Exposure to the gas could result in nose, throat, and eye irritation. At high levels, it could change your breathing rate, induce coughing, and potentially damage lungs.

Atchison County officials closed and evacuated the county courthouse. Classes at Benedictine College were canceled for the day.

Massive clouds of gas appeared throughout the city for nearly 90 minutes.

Facebook issued a safety check for those affected by the chemical plume.

Some roads were closed for almost an hour, but traffic has reopened.

Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri and other area hospitals will be on standby if additional medical help is needed.

The National Weather Service released a map showing where the chemicals will spread through 11:30 a.m.



The history of MGP Ingredients Inc.

MGP experienced an explosion at the plant back in February 2016. While no one was hurt in that incident, that wasn't the case in another explosion that took place in 2002. Two construction workers were sent to the hospital with burns after alcohol vapors escaped through a manhole and burst into flames.

MGP processes wheat flour into food ingredients, such as wheat proteins used by other manufacturers. By-products from this process are mixed with corn and made into a variety of alcohol additives used in distilled beverages, food and pharmaceuticals.

The company also makes plant-based polymers for petroleum-based plastics, such as disposable cutlery and CD cases.

MGP Ingredients is a supplier of premium spirits, including gin, bourbon and rye whiskeys.

More northeast Nebraska residents are being allowed to return to their homes days after they were evacuated because of an anhydrous ammonia leak that killed a local farmer.

(MGN)

More residents near ammonia leak site allowed to go home
By Associated Press Friday, October 21st 2016
DECATUR, Neb. (AP) — More northeast Nebraska residents are being allowed to return to their homes days after they were evacuated because of an anhydrous ammonia leak that killed a local farmer.

Magellan Midstream Partners, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, said Friday that it is still not allowing people who live within a mile from where the pipeline leak occurred to return home. Magellan says only four homes fall within the mile radius.

Magellan has been repairing the 8-inch-diameter pipeline that carries the liquid fertilizer. When released from a tank or pipe, anhydrous ammonia becomes a lethal gas that can cause severe chemical burns and damage the tissue of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

Authorities have said 59-year-old Phillip Hennig, of Tekamah, was killed by the fumes Monday night while checking on the leak.

Construction Worker Dies After Falling Some 50 Feet Into Well at Bel-Air Construction Site

Worker Dies After Falling Some 50 Feet Into Well at Bel-Air Construction Site: LAFD
Posted 3:13 PM, October 21, 2016, by Melissa Pamer, Updated at 06:11pm, October 21, 2016


A laborer who fell 50 feet into a well died at a construction site in Bel-Air Friday, authorities said.


Los Angeles firefighters surround a well that construction worker fell into in Bel-Air on Oct. 21, 2016. (Credit: KTLA)

First responders were called to 908 Bel Air Road at 2:48 p.m., according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The 27-year-old worker fell an estimated 50 feet into a sump well, believed to be 4 feet in diameter, Humphrey said.

The man had toppled out of a basket from which he was being lowered and fell into an unknown depth of water, authorities on scene said.

The worker was seen floating face down and motionless, Humphrey said.

Search-and-rescue confined space specialists worked to access him and eventually determined he was beyond medial help. He was declared dead at 5:23 p.m.

The county coroner’s office and Cal/OSHA were expected to respond.

The rescue and recovery effort were taking place at large construction site in an extremely affluent residential neighborhood.

The property owner prohibited news media access to the area, Humphrey said.

OSHA is investigating an Oct. 11 accident at Le Sueur Cheese in which an employee sustained injuries resulting in the loss of an arm.

OSHA investigating employee accident at Le Sueur Cheese

By DANA MELIUS dmelius@lesueurnews-herald.com
Updated Oct 20, 2016

The state's Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed it is investigating an Oct. 11 accident at Le Sueur Cheese in which an employee sustained injuries resulting in the loss of an arm.


"It's definitely in our systems," a state OSHA investigaor confirmed Oct. 19. No other comments could be provide due to the ongoing investigation.


Reports indicate that Jake Krekelberg, 31, a production supervisor at the Le Sueur Cheese Company at 719 North Main St., was attempting to remove material and unplug a machine when the incident occurred.


Le Sueur Ambulance President Monica Muchow confirmed the emergency service was called and responded to an industrial accident at Le Sueur Cheese 2:13 a.m. Oct. 11. Assisting on the call were the Le Sueur Police Department, Le Sueur Fire Department, Mayo 3 Air, and Le Sueur County Sheriff's Department, according to Muchow.


The patient was transported by Mayo 3 to Hennpin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.


Krekelberg has since returned home and issued this comment Oct. 14 on his personal Facebook page:


"I would like to thank everyone for all the different forms of support. It has been mind blowing how many have reached out … I want you to know it is working because I am feeling great and am completely ready to get life back to normal."


Le Sueur Cheese Company is owned by Agropur, a Canadian-based dairy cooperative based in Quebec which purchased the plant from Davisco Foods International in July 2014. Attempts to reach plant manager Mark Spence for comments have been unsuccessful.


The Minnesota OSHA is managed and administered through the state Department of Labor and Industry in St. Paul.



At Davisco Foods International our passion is quality. A family-owned dairy company, we supply the world with the finest dairy ingredients. From cheese to whey protein to lactose, our global sales team and worldwide network of trading partners offer global supply. Through groundbreaking protein technology and flexible process manufacturing our dairy ingredients have become the industry standard for quality.

As your partner in product development, we are innovative, flexible and market-driven. We respond to your needs and take pride in making your product goals a reality. We invite you to discover our capabilities.

Davisco Foods is an international cheese and food ingredient company headquartered in Le Sueur, MN. Founded in 1943 by Stanley Davis, with his purchase of the St. Peter Creamery, Davisco is managed by Jon Davis, CEO and grandson of the founder. Davisco has cheese companies in Le Sueur, MN, Jerome, ID and Lake Norden, SD as well as food ingredient companies in Le Sueur and Nicollet, MN, Lake Norden, SD and Jerome, ID. Davisco has sales offices in Minneapolis, Geneva, Shanghai, Singapore and worldwide strategic partners in the Middle East, Japan, China and Africa.

Davisco processes 11 million pounds of milk per day into cheese and whey products. Davisco prides itself in its support of local communities by providing jobs and buying milk from regional farmers. Meticulous about quality control and excellent customer service, Davisco's mission is to lead the industry in food technology by producing innovative proteins for health and nutrition.

A pioneer in whey protein isolate research, Davisco is the largest and most experienced manufacturer of Ion Exchange whey protein products in the world. Davisco produces over 10 million pounds of whey protein isolates annually, accounting for 65% of whey protein isolates sold worldwide. Whey protein isolates are found in 50% of grocery products today, including sports drinks, reduced fat candies, low-fat salad dressings, infant formula, yogurts, dips, shelf-stable baking mixes, and low fat cheese sauces.

A massive fire at a recycling facility in Ontario, California sent large clouds of black smoke into the air

A massive fire at a recycling facility in Ontario sent large clouds of black smoke into the air Friday afternoon. (KABC)

By Rob McMillan and ABC7.com staff
Updated 1 hr 58 mins ago
ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- A massive fire at a recycling facility in Ontario sent large clouds of black smoke into the air Friday afternoon.

The fire broke out around 4:23 p.m. at a cardboard recycling facility near Holt Boulevard and N. Grove Avenue, according to Ontario Fire officials. The fire jumped nearby railroad tracks and set fire to some train track pieces and a fence in the backyard of one building, but firefighters were quick to control the flames.


Firefighters said pallet fires can be extremely difficult to battle because the way pallets are constructed keep heat inside, making it almost water-resistant. One firefighter said cities sometimes have to boost water pressure in order to get an upper hand in a pallet fire.

Fire officials said no other structures were threatened by the blaze, but firefighters were concerned that the winds could send sparks to other nearby buildings.

Authorities said no injuries were reported and the area was evacuated.

The large plumes of smoke could be seen in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Several streets were blocked off and a Metrolink train was delayed because the blaze was so close to train tracks and firefighters needed access to get to the flames.


The fire did not cause any delays at the Ontario Airport, located northwest of the facility.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

A woman has died after being struck by an MTA bus in Lower Manhattan Friday evening

CeFaan Kim, Eyewitness News
Updated 3 mins ago
FINANCIAL DISTRICT, Manhattan (WABC) -- A woman has died after being struck by an MTA bus in Lower Manhattan Friday evening.

The area was packed with tourists and Wall Street employees at the time.

Witnesses were frantically trying to get the bus driver's attention, before he eventually stopped.

Police believe the victim may have been struck by the charging bull statue on Broadway, four blocks away.

"People jumped off the bus, even the driver jumped off the bus, and they looked. Guess they heard something dragging or whatever and looked under there, there was something under there. I guess they thought it was a prank or whatever, the bus pulled off again and then I guessed they realized that it wasn't, that it was a body under there," said Benjamin Layton, Coach Bus Employee.


Benjamin Layton says at first, he thought it was all a joke, but just moments later things took a tragic turn.

Cops say it was around 5:30 p.m. Friday when this MTA express bus, struck a pedestrian somewhere by Whitehall and State Street in Lower Manhattan, dragging that woman for several blocks.

The bus finally stopped when witnesses flagged down the bus driver.

Cell phone video captured first responders desperately trying to rescue the victim.

The woman was pinned under the back of the bus, nut it was too late.

"They were trying to lift the bus up to get the bus up off of her. The next thing you know all the other fire departments and the police came and everybody is running around trying to get, putting stuff up under the bus trying to lift the bus up," a witness said.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene located at Trinity and Exchange Place.

Police say about half a dozen passengers who remained on scene are now sharing with investigators, what they saw and heard.

For Layton, it still all feels so surreal.

"I wasn't sure. I didn't realize it was a body until the second time I looked up under there. (What did it look like to you?) It looked like, I don't know, maybe a bunch of clothes or something like got caught up in the wheel, got caught up under the axle of the bus," Layton said.

The bus driver was taken to Beth Israel Hospital for evaluation.

He remained on scene, and so far has not been arrested.

The victim has not been identified.

A jury has found North Carolina Superior Court Judge Arnold Ogden Jones, II guilty of charges he tried to bribe an FBI officer

Superior Court Judge Arnold Ogden Jones.

Friday, October 21, 2016 03:11PM
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A jury has found North Carolina Superior Court Judge Arnold Ogden Jones, II guilty of charges he tried to bribe an FBI officer to get text messages between his wife and another man.

The Goldsboro News-Argus reports the verdict came after more than 30 minutes of deliberation.

Last year, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Jones with promising and paying a bribe to a public official, promising and paying a gratuity to a public official, and corruptly attempting to influence an official proceeding.

Jones is the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge of District 8-B, which covers Wayne, Lenoir and Greene counties. He's on the ballot for reelection this fall.

His sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 23 in Wilmington. He faces a maximum of 37 years in federal prison.

It's illegal for law officers like an FBI agent to demand text or phone information from a phone company without an approved search warrant in an active case.

Jones approached the unnamed FBI officer to exchange $100 for a disk supposedly containing the data, prosecutors said.

Jones is the former chairman of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission, the first state-run agency in the country dedicated to proving a convicted person's innocence.

Jones was a private attorney in Goldsboro for 18 years before being elected to the Superior Court in 2008. He earned degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Wake Forest University law school.

A car accident in September, involving the director of emergency services in Delaware County, Ed Truitt, is now being reinvestigated amid reports that Truitt may have left the scen

Prominent Delco official on leave amid accident investigation

By Chad Pradelli

Friday, October 21, 2016 06:24PM

MEDIA, Pa. (WPVI) --

Action News has confirmed a car accident in September, involving the director of emergency services in Delaware County, Ed Truitt, is now being reinvestigated amid reports that Truitt may have left the scene.

According to the traffic citations and sources close to the investigation, Truitt was driving southbound on Route 1 in Middletown when he rear-ended the victim at the 352 off-ramp. The victim was driving her daughter to day care.

Sources say the victim told police she pulled off on 352 into the day care center. Truitt allegedly followed, but didn't get out of his car, circled around and drove off.

The victim got the tag number to his county-issued Chevy Tahoe.

Pennsylvania State Police say they followed up on the investigation, and tracked Truitt at his county office just down the road on 352. He was issued two traffic citations - one for failing to provide information or render aid to those involved in an accident, and following too close behind.

State Police wouldn't say why he wasn't charged with hit-and-run, but say the traffic citations are being withdrawn, and the circumstances surrounding the crash re-examined.

Late Friday afternoon, after being contacted by Action News, County Council met with the 79-year-old Truitt.

Council released a statement that reads:

"A minor motor vehicle accident involving Edwin Truitt, director of the Delaware County Department of Emergency Services, was reported to the Delaware County Department of Risk Management on the day it occurred, Sept. 29, as per standard procedure.
The Delaware County Park Police subsequently interviewed Mr. Truitt.

It was later learned that summary motor vehicle citations were filed against Mr. Truitt by the Pennsylvania State Police.

The Department of Risk Management continues to investigate the accident and subsequent violations.

Mr. Truitt has requested medical leave and is off duty from his position as director of the Department of Emergency Services."

Action News reporter Chad Pradelli spoke with Truitt by phone on Friday evening. He says any allegations of hit-and-run are unfounded. He says after hitting the victim, he drove about a block away, got out of his car, assessed that he had no damage, looked for the other driver and her car, didn't see them, and then left and went to work.

No one was seriously injured in the crash. A source tells us the victim did have to replace her bumper.

At last check, a court date was set for Nov. 30 for Truitt.

TWO HORRIFIC SEMI-TRUCK FIERY CRASH DEATHS ON I-80 WEST OF SLC IN UTAH

OCTOBER 21, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) — Authorities in Utah say two people are dead after a fiery crash involving two tractor-trailers on Interstate 80 west of Salt Lake City.


According to the Utah Highway Patrol, a trucker from Nevada died when his rig hauling a military vehicle hit a media about 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19 near Grantsville, west of Salt Lake City.

KSL-TV the second victim, from Missouri, was a passenger in a FedEx double-trailer truck that slammed into the military vehicle, which had become dislodged during the first crash.


The driver of the FedEx truck was hospitalized with injuries that officials said weren't believed to be life-threatening.

The wreck and fire shut down parts of I-80 in Tooele County while debris was cleared and pavement repairs were made.

The dead were identified as 61-year-old Fred Marsh of Sun Valley, Nevada, and 58-year-old Robert Kuntz of Urich, Missouri.

Two workers drowned to death inside a 12-foot deep trench after broken water main floods the excavation in south Boston, Mass.

OCTOBER 21, 2016
BOSTON, Mass. —Crews are working to recover the bodies of at least one, maybe two, workers who became trapped in a flooded trench Friday, according to Boston fire officials.

Workers were in a hole adjacent to a fire hydrant that started leaking and pouring into the hole, Boston Fire's Steve MacDonald said.

The incident happened just before 1 p.m. at 10 Dartmouth St. in Boston's South End.

"It's a recovery operation right now," Boston Fire Chief John Walsh said.

The Atlantic Drain Service Co. workers were in a trench adjacent to a fire hydrant that started leaking and quickly filling the hole.

"They just started shouting and then the water started rushing from the hole," said witness Sage Pina, who works nearby. "I couldn't really understand what they were saying, but definitely, like, a panic was going on."

The hole was estimated to be about 12-feet deep.

"A couple of workers are in the trench right now, and we are working to shore it up so we can go in," Walsh said.

The workers are contract workers, not employees of the city. Several teams were at the scene trying to recover the bodies and secure the area.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with these two people's families," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said.

Officials said Dartmouth Street from Warren to Tremont streets is expected to be closed for several days.



==========
OCTOBER 21, 2016

BOSTON, Mass. (CBS) – The Boston Fire Department says two people were killed after they were trapped in a trench when a water main broke in the South End.

The water main break broke on Dartmouth Street just after 1 p.m. on Friday.

Firefighters said two people were killed, and crews are still trying to drain the area to safely recover their bodies.


Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and firefighters on scene of a South End water main break. (Nick Giovanni/WBZ)

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans urged drivers to avoid Dartmouth Street between Warren and Tremont Streets.

The area will likely be closed at least through Saturday morning.

Firefighters are using a large vacuum to remove water from the trench.

It is not yet known how deep the trench is. Water has been shut off to the area.

Firefighters said they are now moving forward as a “recovery not rescue operation.”


Crews worked frantically to drain the trench on Dartmouth Street Friday afternoon. (WBZ-TV)

Mayor Marty Walsh arrived on scene a short time after the incident.

Boston EMS said it has evaluated two people on scene but no one has been transported yet.

“I would say the street is going to be shut down for quite some time,” he said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been requested to respond to the scene.

Evans said police and firefighters will work with OSHA to determine what caused the deadly incident.

“I heard the officers screaming on the air very quickly to get fire and everyone down here. They realized very quickly we had workers trapped down there,” said Evans.

No further details are currently available.

SPEED KILLS: Another speeding young male driver, Timothy Brickley, 29, loses his life after crashes his Mazda into trees, bursting into flames in West Cornwall Township, PA

Timothy Brickley, 29, of West Chester, Pa. killed in fiery crash in West Cornwall. 
 Chris Asroff , christopherasroff@ldnews.com 10:43 p.m. EDT October 20, 2016


Cornwall Borough Police Chief Bruce Harris (left) and Lebanon County coroner Dr. Jeffrey Yocum investigate the scene where a middle-aged man was killed in a fiery crash after his vehicle struck a tree along South Butler Road in West Cornwall Township on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. Jeremy Long, Jeremy Long, Lebanon Daily News



A middle-aged man was killed in a fiery crash in West Cornwall Township Thursday night.

Crews were dispatched at 6:44 p.m. to the 400 block of South Butler Road after the man's car hit a tree and caught fire.

A resident of 454 S. Butler Road, directly across the street from the crash, and a passing motorist from Mount Gretna approached the vehicle and attempted to remove the man from the car, Cornwall police Chief Bruce Harris said.

Lebanon County coroner Dr. Jeffrey Yocum said the man died on impact. Yocum also said that initial reports indicated there may have been more than one person in the vehicle, but only one was found.

Yocum said the man was from West Chester. Harris said the vehicle, a Mazda, is registered to a Chester County address. Police did not release the man's name Thursday night.

The car hit the tree while southbound on South Butler Road less than 600 feet from the Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, and as a result of the impact, the car's battery was found in the woods about 125 feet from the crash, Harris said.

Indicated by pieces of vehicle debris found along the road leading up to the crash site, the car may have hit something before hitting the tree, Harris said. A guy wire is damaged at the bottom of a nearby utility pole, although there is no confirmation that the damage was caused by the crash.

Police said the preliminary investigation indicated that the car ran off the road on a curve north of Old Mine Road, about 1,400 feet from where it struck the tree. Butler Road was closed for three hours in both directions between Route 117 and Old Mine Road.

Jeff Norton, a nearby resident, said that he heard the crash and came out to see the vehicle already engulfed in flames. He said the flames reached about the height of the utility wires. Burn marks were visible on the tree.

The fatality was the 13th on Lebanon County roads this year.

Lawn, Mt. Gretna, Quentin, Campbelltown and Annville-Cleona fire companies; First Aid and Safety Patrol; Cornwall Borough police; South Londonderry police; South Annville police and fire police all assisted at the scene.

==========

UPDATE: Police identify man killed in fiery crash

Updated: 1:07 PM EDT Oct 21, 2016

 

WEST CORNWALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Police in Lebanon County are investigating a crash that killed a man on Thursday evening.

Police say the driver was speeding on Butler Road in West Cornwall Township around 7:45 p.m. when he lost control and crashed into a tree. The car burst into flames.
"A resident who lives across the street from the crash, and a passing motorist from Mount Gretna approached the vehicle but were unable to get to the driver," police said in a news release.

The victim has been identified as Timothy Brickley, 29, of West Chester, Pa. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
 

Cornwall Borough Police Department

Police released images of the fatal crash scene.

 

The Cornwall Borough Police Department released the following information about the crash: 

---

Fatal Accident – Occurred at 6:44 PM this evening on Butler Road between the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail and Old Mine Road. Vehicle was traveling south on Butler Road at a high rate of speed when the operator lost control, traveled off the shoulder of the southbound lane and collided with a tree. After impact the vehicle caught fire. A resident who lives across the street from the crash, and a passing motorist from Mount Gretna approached the vehicle but were unable to get to the driver. The vehicle is a Mazda registered to an address in Chester County. The driver was a male but no other information on his identity is available at this time; he was pronounced dead at the scene by Lebanon County Coroner Dr. Jeff Yocum. Preliminary investigation indicated that the vehicle ran off the road on a curve north of Old Mine Road, approx.. 1400 feet from where it struck the tree. Butler Road was closed for three hours in both directions between SR 117 & Old Mine Road. With Fire Police providing traffic control.

EPIDEMIC OF SCHOOL BUS CRASHES AT INTERSECTIONS: Female driver seriously injured after she collided with Brandywine School District bus in Wilmington, DE

 

One female driver had to be extricated following a crash between an empty Brandywine School District bus and a car Friday afternoon.

WDEL Breaking News Reporter Mike Phillips said the crash occurred around 2:45 p.m. at the intersection of Silverside Road and Veale Road. The bus additionally ran off the road and hit a tree.

There was no word on injuries to the bus driver, but the female operator of the car had to be freed from her vehicle by responding firefighters, then airlifted to Christiana Hospital due to the serious nature of her injuries.

Delaware State Police were investigating the crash at Silverside Rd & Veale Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810.

Emergency Demolition of Downtown Jamestown, New York Building Required Following Partial Collapse Due to Lack of Maintenance

 

JAMESTOWN – An emergency demolition for a downtown building had to be scheduled Thursday evening due to a partial collapse.

Jamestown police and city fire crews were called to the scene at 10-12 East Second St. on Thursday afternoon around 4 p.m. after receiving word that the roof of the three story abandoned structure had fallen in. The building sits next to Potters Alley.

According to City Development Director Vince DeJoy, the roof collapse – which was came after a previous collapse of a back wall section – is likely due to poor maintenance.

“The structural integrity had been compromised in the previous collapse of the back wall section, and with all the rain and moisture that we’ve had, my assumption is that it was just too much weight and another large section collapsed [Thursday] afternoon,” DeJoy said.


City officials discuss how to proceed with the demo of a building at 10-12 E. Second St. in Jamestown following a roof collapse on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016.

DeJoy also said that the building – which is currently owned by Chautauqua Home Rehap and Improvement Corporation (CHRIC) – had applied for state funding to improve the structure stability. But due to safety reasons following the collapse, city officials had no choice but to do an emergency demolition of the building.

“[The demolition crew] took the top two levels and basically brought the building down onto itself, just to remove the emergency situation that we have,” DeJoy said. “From there we’ll work on removing the debris pile and taking down the rest of it, stabilizing the hill, and there’s a bunch of other things that are going to have to happen to make sure its safe for pedestrians and adjacent properties.”

DeJoy added that it’s unlikely there are any other buildings in the downtown that pose a similar risk of collapse.

“We have a pretty good building stock here, even though they are old,” DeJoy said. “This one we’ve been watching for a long time. We’ve been aware of it and we’ve gotten a number of quotes to demolish it. [Earlier Thursday] there were structural engineers looking at it so we knew that it was only a matter of time, but we were hoping that funds could have come through to save the building – stabilize it, save it, and redevelop it. That was our plan all along, but now that plan has turned into something different.”

The building had been vacant for more than ten years. DeJoy says the city will be using emergency demolition funds to pay for the cost of bringing the building down, but added that it will also be seeking reimbursement as well.

Massive fire at the Mattress Wholesale store in Detroit, MI completely destroys the building, forces evacuations

OCTOBER 21, 2016
DETROIT, MICHIGAN

A Detroit mattress store was destroyed early Friday in a fire that caused its roof to collapse and forced evacuations from nearby homes, according to the Detroit Fire Department.

The blaze ignited around 7 a.m. inside the Mattress Wholesale store at 4242 Eight Mile near Ryan, officials said.

“The building is about 100 feet by 150 feet, and the fire was through the roof when units first arrived,” Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell said. “They had to evacuate three nearby houses as a precaution, but (firefighters) protected the houses so they’re going to be OK.”

Eastbound Eight Mile was closed for a couple of blocks in front of the store, Fornell added. Westbound lanes remained open.

Fire crews from multiple communities continued fighting the fire after 8 a.m. Friday.

“They surrounded the fire and contained it,” Fornell said of firefighting efforts. “It’s still burning, but it’s not going to spread.”

Crews were unable to enter the building early Friday and instead took a “defensive” approach, fighting the flames from the outside.

“The roof collapsed. They can’t go in, it’s too dangerous,” Fornell said. “The store wasn’t opened, it was locked up and there’s no indication there was anyone inside.”

The building is a loss, Fornell said.

“It’s destroyed,” he said. “The roof is completely burned off the building.”