NORTON SHORES, Mich. (WJBK) -
Authorities say a police officer has died after a crash involving his cruiser while on duty in western Michigan.
Norton Shores police say an area resident reported the single-vehicle crash around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police say the officer was taken to a hospital and died.
According to the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office, the police officer has been identified as Jon Ginka. Police said the 10-year veteran leaves behind a wife and two children.
Michigan State Police are investigating what led to the crash, which destroyed the cruiser. Considering the massive damage to the cruiser, the way it left the roadway and the lack of skid marks, he must have been speeding way too much. It is also possible he was drunk or on drugs, as most drunk-related crashes occur in the early a.m. hours, like here.
Another possibility is that he had a medical condition, because he was severely overweight.
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Officer Jon Ginka Killed
Norton Shores, MI – Norton Shores Police Officer Jon Ginka was killed in a traffic collision early Wednesday morning, May 10.
According to WOOD TV8, the incident occurred about 2:32 AM on Henry Street between Ross and Forest Park Roads. A citizen reported hearing the crash. Officers responded and found Officer Ginka’s vehicle destroyed and the officer severely injured.
He was transported to Mercy Health Muskegon’s Hackley Hospital, where he died.
The cause of the crash is not known at this time. For some unknown reason Officer Ginka’s cruiser apparently left the roadway and struck a tree. No other vehicles are known to be involved, and no other injuries have been reported. Police are asking any possible witnesses to come forward so they can determine what happened.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Norton Shores Police Department, 231-733-2691 or to leave an anonymous tip by calling Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME
Officer Ginka was a ten-year veteran of the Norton Shores Police Department, and formerly worked as a North Muskegon firefighter.
Todd Christensen, instructor at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s police academy, said “It’s a terrible day and I’m with a broken heart.”
Officer Ginka leaves behind a wife and two children. The Norton Shores Police Department is closed Thursday as a result of his death.
Many state leaders and law enforcement groups were sending condolences via social media, including State Attorney General A. G. ‘Bill’ Schuette, who sent prayers to Officer Ginka’s family and friends.
Michigan State Police is conducting the investigation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Norton Shores Police Officer Jon Ginka, both blood and blue. Godspeed, sir, we will take the watch from here. Thank you for your service.
Candice Dunn dead. RIP.
5 dead following fiery, 2-vehicle crash in Michigan
Published May 10, 2017
Associated Press
Police say five people are dead in Michigan after a 22-year-old driver blew through a stop sign and smashed into another vehicle.
Two people were killed in one car and three in the other. The crash happened late Tuesday in Livingston County's Oceola Township, about 35 miles northwest of Detroit.
State police say three more people are in critical condition, including the drivers.
Investigators say a car failed to stop at a sign and struck a vehicle traveling east on Michigan highway 59. One vehicle caught fire. Sgt. Robert Mossing tells the Detroit Free Press that speed limits approaching the intersection are 55 mph.
He says investigators are "trying to sift through the details and figure out exactly what happened."
No names have been released.
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Five people died and three are critically injured after a two-car T-bone crash Tuesday night in Livingston County, according to Michigan State Police.
A 22-year-old male driver from Fenton and a passenger are in critical condition, and two passengers died at the scene. Their vehicle apparently ran a stop sign while being driven southbound at 10:40 p.m. on Argentine Road at M-59, colliding with the other car, police Lt. Mario Gonzales said at a news conference broadcast Wednesday by Channel 4 (WDIV-TV).
From the other car, a 39-year-old male driver from Oakland County is in critical condition. A 35-year-old female passenger from Sterling Heights and two 70-year-old male and female passengers from Macomb County all died at the scene, Gonzales said.
The crash in Oceola Township, east of Howell, left both vehicles in a field off the southeast corner of the intersection. The southbound vehicle caught fire, and the other was left on its side.
The speed limits approaching the intersection are 55 m.p.h., police Sgt. Robert Mossing said this morning.
"It's a tragic crash," he said. "We're still trying to sift through the details and figure out exactly what happened."
At a press conference Wednesday, May 10, 2017, Michigan State Police Lt. Mario Gonzales talks about the fatal accident at the corner of Argentine Road and M-59 in Oceola Township Tuesday evening. (Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)
Gonzales said the eastbound vehicle would have had a flashing yellow light as it approached the intersection. He said a recent rise in fatal crashes is a cause for concern.
"We are trying to make sure people are aware of how important it is to drive safely," Gonzales said, adding that there's "nothing worse" for a trooper than coming upon a scene where people are dead. "This shouldn't happen."
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OCEOLA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A car driven by a 22-year-old man zipped through a stop sign and smashed into another vehicle in southeastern Michigan, killing five people including a woman who was returning from a banquet as the state's probation agent of the year, authorities said Wednesday.
"This should have never happened. People should be paying attention to their speed, to the traffic signals," Michigan State Police Lt. Mario Gonzales said.
The crash happened late Tuesday in Livingston County's Oceola Township, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.
Investigators said a car driven by a young man from the Fenton area failed to stop at a sign and struck a vehicle traveling east on Michigan Highway 59. Gonzales described it as a "T-bone" crash in a rural area.
Two people were killed in one car and three in the other. Three more people were in critical condition, including the drivers.
The dead included Candice Dunn, 36, who was returning home from a state Corrections Department banquet where she was honored as parole/probation agent of the year, spokesman Chris Gautz said.
Dunn's 70-year-old mother was also killed, he said. They were in the car that had the right of way.
"Everyone here is in disbelief and shock. She was beloved by everybody," Gautz said of Dunn. "Yesterday was such a high and a celebration of the work she did."
Speed limits approaching the intersection are 55 mph (88 kph), Sgt. Robert Mossing said.
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Oakland County Probation Agent Candice Dunn, who was selected as the Michigan Department of Corrections’ 2017 Parole/Probation Agent of the Year, was killed Tuesday night in a traffic crash in Livingston County.
Dunn was returning home from the MDOC’s Employee Appreciation Banquet in East Lansing, where she was honored for her dedication to helping those under her supervision succeed and her commitment to improving her community.
“We are devastated by the loss of Agent Candice Dunn, whose passion for her work changed so many lives for the better,” said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. “Her ambition and her drive to make Michigan a better and safer place will leave a lasting impact on our department.”
Dunn was named the department’s 2017 Agent of the Year in April, and said at the time that she felt humbled to receive the award.
2 Utility Workers Hurt In Possible Electrical Incident In Westlake May 8, 2017 2:20 PM
WESTLAKE, LOS ANGELES, CA (CBSLA.com) –
Two workers with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power were injured in a possible electrical incident in the Westlake neighborhood Monday.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the incident occurred sometime before 11:54 a.m. in the 400 block of South Hoover Street.
An LADWP spokesperson told CBS2 the two were working on a power outage that had occurred earlier in the morning when they were hurt.
They were rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital. One was described as having substantial injuries, LADWP said. The other worker had minor injuries.
The circumstances that caused the injuries were not immediately confirmed.
Meanwhile, power remained out in the area to 107 customers, according to the LADWP website. There was no estimate on when it would be restored.
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DWP Workers Critically Injured In Electrical Vault Near Echo Park
One DWP worker is fighting for life and another was seriously injured in an accident in an electrical vault near Echo Park.
By Paige Austin (Patch Staff) -
May 8, 2017 7:39 pm ET
LOS ANGELES, CA — A utility worker was hospitalized in grave condition and a second worker was in serious condition because of injuries suffered in an accident while working Monday in a subterranean electrical vault near Echo Park.
Paramedics were called to the scene at 400 S. Hoover St. shortly before noon Monday. They rescued two Los Angeles Department of Water and Power workers and rushed the to a nearby hospital, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Authorities have not yet publicly released the identities of the two injured workers.
According to the DWP, one of the workers "came in contact with energized electrical equipment." The other worker "sustained burn injuries." "The incident caused a small power outage. Crews are currently working to restore the circuit as soon as possible," according to DWP
A Marathon Petroleum refinery incident sent one worker to an area hospital Tuesday.
CANTON TWP. An incident at the Marathon Petroleum refinery Tuesday afternoon left a man in an area hospital, according to a Marathon Petroleum Corporation spokesman.
Jamal Kheiry, communications manager, said the man was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with apparently non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident happened around 1 p.m., but details were not available as it remained under investigation later Tuesday.
“Any time there’s an injury, we do investigate the cause because we want to make sure it never happens again,” Kheiry said.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS —
UPDATE on Friday, May 5, 2017: The Bexar County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Jesse Garza, 58. See previous story below.
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A man trimming tree branches at a home in Far North Bexar County is dead after he hit a power line with the equipment he was using to cut the branches.
It happened around 7 p.m. in the 900 block of Enchanted Rock -- the man fell from the tree after getting shocked and ended up dying.
Neighbors told us the victim is not the homeowner and suspect he was doing work at the house.
It's unclear whether the fall or the shock killed the man, but a sergeant at the scene said it was a "freak accident" regardless.
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Man killed in accident trimming trees near power lines
By Jacob Beltran
Updated 6:22 pm, Friday, May 5, 2017
A man trimming trees outside his house Thursday evening in North Bexar County died after his tool made contact with a power line and he fell.
Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Leonard Lopez said the man, 55, was cutting branches around the lines at about 6 p.m. in the 900 block of Enchanted Rock.
“It’s hard to hear stuff like that,” Lopez said. “EMS worked on him to revive him but they were unable to do so.”
Whether the man was killed by electrocution or fall remains to be determined by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.
Lopez said the man was by himself when the accident occurred. Authorities are investigating the incident, but said it appears to be an accident.
Authorities urged citizens to take advantage of free trimming of trees that are along power lines, which is offered by CPS Energy.
CPS Energy spokesman Albert Cantu said their campaign called “Look Up and Live,” cautions people to never trim trees near power lines and be mindful of how close trees are being planted to them.
“That power can arc, which means it can jump out,” Cantu said. “If you get too close to those lines, you, of course, become grounded.”
CPS Energy’s tree-trimming service may be reached at 210-353-2222.
Telephone lines will need to be handled by their respective companies, Cantu said.
DANVILLE, Ind. — The Danville Police Department has identified a contractor who was electrocuted to death at a church on Saturday morning.
Officers say 59-year-old Chris Goins was fatally shocked when a power line came in contact with a lift that he was on while cleaning out gutters.
Authorities were called the scene at the Disciples of Christ Christian Church around 11 a.m. but they had to wait for the power company to shut down the lines before reaching Goins. When they got to him, it was too late.
Another man was with Goins at the time of the accident, but police say there wasn’t much he could do.
“He was out here with another gentleman. The other gentleman is actually the one who called 911 and obviously there was nothing that individual could do, the lift was still in contact with the power line,” said Officer Nate Lien.
Authorities tell FOX59 that Goins was a well-known figure in the community. A GoFundMe page has been created to cover funeral expenses.
On this day, we have lost a father, husband, grandfather, friend, and a
true patriot. Chris was the first to offer his help to those in need and
was taken from us doing just that, volunteering his time to a local
church. His heart was as big as a mountain and those who knew him, loved
him dearly. He knew no stranger. He commanded any room he walked into
and would give you his last dollar. We have never met someone that
worked as hard as he did for his family, community and his Legion.
Always helping those less fortunate.
We are now asking in return some support for his family in their time
of need. He has given us so much, that it is now our time to show his
family our unconditional love and help them through this horrible
tragedgy. Being self-employed has its draw backs, and lack of life
insurance is one of them. Please find it in your hearts to reach out and
do what you can to help.
ALL proceeds of this page will go directly to Connie and the family to
cover funeral expenses and any other expenses they will have.
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – When Danville emergency crews arrived to save Chris Goins yesterday, it was already too late.
"I was here and the power went out and we heard there was an accident, but we never would've guessed what it was," said Lori Clark, the Ladies Auxiliary president for American Legion Post 118 in Danville.
Goins, a self-employed contractor, had volunteered to clean out the gutters of a local church.
While in his electric lift vehicle, he came into contact with a high-voltage power line, which electrocuted him.
First responders couldn't get to him until the power was cut. They pronounced him dead at the scene.
Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC
A 34-year-old worker died Monday morning in an incident at the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office identified the worker as Joseph Kemper of Fayetteville. At 10:36 a.m., Kemper was caught between a lift gate and a trailer, the N.C. Department of Labor said. He suffered a head injury and emergency personnel were not able to revive him.
Kemper was an employee at the plant, which is at 800 Tom Starling Road off U.S. 301 South. The incident remains under investigation.
The release said fatality investigations typically take three to four months to complete and the department has up to six months to complete the investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and co-worker, Joe Kemper,” Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated said in a news release. “Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers are with Joe’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
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Man crushed to death at Fayetteville Coca-Cola plant, officials say
By CBS North Carolina
Updated: May 9, 2017, 4:31 pm
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — A man was killed at the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Fayetteville on Monday after being crushed between two pieces of equipment, state labor officials said.
The 34-year-old man “suffered a fatal compression of the skull,” the North Carolina Department of Labor said.
The incident happened at 10:36 a.m., when an employee got caught between a lift gate and a trailer at the plant at 800 Tom Starling Road, officials said.
Emergency personnel tried to revive the employee but were not successful.
The Department of Labor is investigating the man’s death.
5 NJ firefighters hurt after train collides with fire truck
An operator and four firefighters were on board at the time of the collision
May 8, 2017
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Five firefighters were injured after a light rail train collided with a fire truck Friday night.
CBS New York reported that an operator and four firefighters were hurt in the collision; one firefighter had a broken arm and ribs and another suffered a leg fracture. The firefighters were transported to a hospital.
"At approximately 7:15 pm Friday, a light rail vehicle on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system and a Jersey City Fire truck came into contact at the intersection of Sixth Street in Jersey City. There were 10 people on the light rail vehicle along with an operator who is reporting an injury. It is not known of the extent of injuries. The light rail vehicle derailed and some overhead wires were down at the scene," NJ TRANSIT said in a statement.
Firefighters were en route to a possible death at a nearby mall; their rig was crossing an intersection when the train crashed into it.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
updated May 09, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Grief counselors are on site at Hyundai's Montgomery plant today after a temporary worker died after becoming unresponsive at work on Monday.
Plant spokesman Robert Burns said the incident happened at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday.
Charles Turner, a temporary worker for contractor Aerotek, became unconscious and unresponsive while working at HMMA's (Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama) assembly building.
The factory's on-site emergency response team responded and immediately began administering CPR, Burns said.
Turner was transported to the plant medical clinic and taken to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Turner's family during this difficult time," Burns said.
