NEVER SAFE ON THE DEADLY U.S. ROADS: Fire Chief Ed Switalski was struck and killed in the Line of Duty while he worked at a crash scene on I-94 in Comstock Township, MI

MICHIGAN FIRE CHIEF STRUCK & KILLED ON INTERSTATE 94-LODD

June 15, 2017

It is with a very heavy heart that we inform you that the Fire Service profession & FireFighterCloseCalls/The Secret List has lost a friend in the Line of Duty.

At approximately 2230 hours last night (Wednesday) Comstock Township (Kalamazoo County) Fire Chief Ed Switalski was struck and killed in the Line of Duty while he worked at a crash scene on I-94. Chief Switalski was standing at the rear of his command vehicle returning equipment to service when another vehicle entered the scene striking the Chief and the rear of his vehicle.

Comstock Firefighters and the entire EMS system did their very best to save his life but his injures were just too severe to survive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Comstock Fire had followed all best practices yet the driver somehow made it around a blocking engine.

It should be noted that this “stretch” of I-94 has a long history of tragic outcomes.

While you will read more in the coming days, Chief Switalski, was a true hero and beloved friend to the Illinois, Michigan and US fire service. Among many accomplishments, he received the medal of valor for his actions involving the Line of Duty death of a firefighter as a member of the Pleasantview FPD, IL in 1989.

We will post additional updates as soon as they are available.

Our sincere condolences to all involved and especially his wife Holly and his daughters Emily and Allison along with the Comstock Firefighters.

http://s.mlive.com/IwESmUd

NOTE: There is NO COST, FREE certified online training for all Firefighters and EMT’s – this is another reminder of the importance of that training. Please take advantage of this program.

http://learning.respondersafety.com/

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Car that killed chief on I-94 blew past fire truck parked in road
 
Updated on June 16, 2017 at 2:21 PM Posted on June 15, 2017 at 1:18 PM


By Brad Devereaux



KALAMAZOO, MI -- A fire truck with its emergency lights flashing was parked on I-94 to block traffic when a car struck and killed Comstock Township Fire Chief Ed Switalski on the shoulder of the road.

Police still don't know why the driver of a sedan, identified only as a 24-year-old Battle Creek man, lost control and struck the chief, Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas said.

Switalski, 55, was on foot at the back of his vehicle after responding to a 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, report of a car crash near mile marker 81 east of the Sprinkle Road exit when the fatal crash occurred, deputies said.

First responders were originally called to a different crash on eastbound I-94 and could not immediately find any wreckage east of Sprinkle Road, Matyas said. The firefighters circled back and spotted the crash further off the side of the highway, where they parked.

A fire truck was positioned in the right lane of travel, and the chief's SUV was parked "a little in front" of the fire truck on the right shoulder, Matyas said.

"The other car came around the fire truck, lost control and hit the chief, pinning him against the two vehicles," the undersheriff said.

The fatal crash happened shortly after 10 p.m.

Matyas said that when responding to an incident on a highway, "you always want to put your lights on and make sure you're as visible as you can be" to warn oncoming traffic.

"Lights were all going," he said. "You can't miss a fire truck."

Comstock firefighters were among those who attempting lifesaving measures on the chief. Switalski was pronounced dead at the scene.

Matyas said investigators spoke briefly with the driver of the car that struck Switalski, but would like to talk with him more about what happened as the investigation continues. He was in poor condition at a hospital Thursday morning, he said.

Investigators have ruled out alcohol as a cause, Matyas said, and do not believe substances will be shown to have been a factor in the crash. Roads were wet after heavy rains and it was humid at the time, according to the undersheriff.

The sedan's driver was the only occupant of that vehicle, and police believe he was headed home from work, Matyas said.

"We'll conduct a thorough investigation," Matyas said. "When it's complete, we'll turn it over to the prosecutor's office, and he'll make a decision (on potential criminal charges)."






Firefighters step up to help after chief's roadside death on I-94

Firefighters from every Kalamazoo County department are helping out, along with some from outside of the county.

No injuries were reported in the first crash that police and firefighters responded to Wednesday evening, and the vehicle involved was found unoccupied, police have said. A third crash, in which two vehicles bumped into each other in the same area of I-94 before leaving the scene, happened while police were responding.

Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said he has responded to crashes along the same stretch of I-94 many times.


"It's sad to see the number of cars, trucks and buses who do not give us the space and do not slow down," he said. Fuller asks drivers to slow down and pay attention to emergency responders on the side of roads.

Gov. Rick Snyder was among those taking to social media to offer condolences following the fatal crash.



Switalski started as Comstock Township Fire Chief on June 17, 2013, coming to the department after 34 years at the Pleasantview Fire District in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.






Fire chief killed at I-94 crash scene put family first, helped others

Firefighters are stepping in to help as his family and the rest of the community mourn the tragic loss.

Matyas said from the minute Switalski arrived, "he totally wrapped himself around the Kalamazoo community."

"He was always helpful to everyone and anyone," the undersheriff said. "That was just his nature. We're gonna miss him a lot."
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The Associated Press
Posted: Jun. 15, 2017 8:00 am Updated: Jun. 15, 2017 11:12 am




COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A fire chief has died after he was struck by an out-of-control vehicle as he responded to another crash on Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan, authorities said Thursday.

Comstock Township Chief Edward Switalski was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash on Wednesday night. The driver who struck him was taken to a hospital with injuries. Comstock Township is 135 miles (220 kilometers) west of Detroit.

The Kalamazoo County sheriff's department said its officers and the Comstock Township fire department were preparing to leave the site of the initial crash when the passing vehicle lost control and struck Switalski as he stood near the rear of his rescue vehicle.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. No injuries were reported related to the initial call that brought Switalski to the scene.

Area fire chiefs met Thursday and worked out how to cover the Comstock Township department's area so firefighters can take time off in the wake of their chief's death, according to the president of the Kalamazoo County Fire Chiefs Association, Mark Barnes.

"He was the guy who would step up for somebody else in this situation," Barnes said.

Switalski, 55, had served as chief of Comstock Township Fire and Rescue since 2013, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported. He came to the Michigan department after more than three decades working with the Pleasantview Fire District in suburban Chicago.

Switalski is survived by his wife, Holly, and two daughters, Barnes said.

BLOWN BY THE WIND: Marshal Thomas Watkins, 71, of Raleigh was killed after his Weight-Shift-Control (WSC) trike encountered gusting wind conditions at the arnett Regional Jetport Airport (KHRJ) in Erwin, North Carolina

a gust of wind pushed the aircraft toward a group of trees near the runway, the aircraft made a sharp turn away from the trees and went down
 
Friday, June 16, 2017 11:15PM
ERWIN, North Carolina (WTVD) --

Officials are investigating a small plane crash just east of Lillington that took the life of a Raleigh man.

Pictures from Chopper 11 showed the ultralight aircraft down behind a home on Pierce Lane in the Erwin area.

Officials said the pilot - the only person on board - was killed.

He's been identified as 71-year-old Marshall Thomas Watkins.

The Harnett County Sheriff's Office said witnesses reported that the aircraft was taking off from a grassy private airstrip located next to Pierce Lane. It appeared to the witnesses that a gust of wind pushed the aircraft toward a group of trees near the runway, the aircraft made a sharp turn away from the trees and went down.



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Raleigh pilot killed in Harnett County ultralight aircraft crash, authorities say

By CBS North Carolina Published: June 16, 2017, 3:20 pm Updated: June 16, 2017, 8:36 pm

 

ERWIN, N.C. (WNCN) — An ultralight aircraft crash Friday in Harnett County has killed one person, authorities confirmed.

The crash happened near Pierce Lane in Erwin, officials said. More details were not immediately available.

Marshal Thomas Watkins, 71, of Raleigh was killed in the crash, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office said.

“Witnesses stated that the aircraft was taking off from a grassy private airstrip located next to Pierce Lane,” the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “It appeared to the witnesses that a gust of wind pushed the aircraft toward a group of trees near the runway, the aircraft made a sharp turn away from the trees and went down.”





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Date: 16-JUN-2017
Time: -15:20
Type: Weight-Shift-Control (WSC) trike
Owner/operator: Private
Registration:

C/n / msn:

Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Harnett Regional Jetport Airport (KHRJ), Erwin, NC - United States of America
Phase: Take off
Nature: Unknown
Departure airport: Harnett Rgn'l Jetport (KHRJ)
Destination airport:

Narrative:
The aircraft experienced departed controlled flight and impacted airport terrain shortly after takeoff in gusting wind conditions from Harnett Regional Jetport Airport (KHRJ) in Erwin, North Carolina. The Weight-Shift-Control (WSC) trike sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard was fatally injured.

Sources:
http://wncn.com/2017/06/16/plane-down-in-harnett-county-authorities-say/
http://www.wral.com/one-dead-after-glider-crash-in-harnett-county/16767202/

M & P Tool Products Inc. pleaded guilty in court and received a fine of $80,000 after a worker suffered permanent injuries while operating a machine.

Brampton Employer Fined $80,000 After New Worker Injured by Machine
June 15, 2017 3:55 P.M.

Ministry of Labour

BRAMPTON, ON - M & P Tool Products Inc. pleaded guilty in court and received a fine of $80,000 after a worker suffered permanent injuries while operating a machine.

M & P Tool Products produces metal parts which are used in the construction of racking structures and the workplace at 43 Regan Road in Brampton contains several industrial presses that are used by workers to create various metal parts.

The incident took place on February 23, 2016 and involved a temporary employment agency worker who began working at the company's manufacturing facility the previous December.

The worker was asked to make storage racking beams using the Accurpress brake press model 71008. The Accurpress brake press is a machine that is used to bend and manipulate sheet metal. It is operated by two foot pedals; one foot pedal lowers the top die while the other raises the top die.

The brake press is equipped with a device known as a light curtain, which transmits a beam of light across the pinch point created by the dies. To effectively guard against access to the pinch point, the light curtain must be adjusted for the type of job being performed. Prior to the worker's use of the brake press, it had not been adjusted in accordance with the specifications of the job to be performed.

The worker had not received training or instruction from M & P Tool Products with respect to the safe operation of the brake press, including any training or instruction relating to adjustment of the light curtain. Immediately prior to operating the machine, the worker observed a colleague operate the machine for approximately five minutes.

Later, while operating the brake press, the worker suffered injuries when two fingers were caught in the pinch point between the dies and the metal being bent. As a result, the worker suffered an injury.

The Ministry of Labour investigated this incident and concluded, based on the evidence gathered, that M & P Tool Products committed the offence of failing as an employer to provide information, instruction and supervision to the worker with respect to the safe operation of the Accurpress brake press, contrary to section 25(2)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

M & P Tool Products Inc. was fined $80,000 by Justice of the Peace Jeannie Anand in Brampton court on June 13, 2017.

The court also imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

New and young workers in Ontario are more likely to be injured during the first few months on the job than other workers, and are three times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job than at any other time.

OSHA has issued a dozen citations and proposed $226,431 in fines following its investigation into the Nov. 29, 2016, death of a 26-year-old machine operator at a Pensacola-area electrical cable manufacturer, Gulf Cable LLC

Florida cable manufacturer cited for safety violations following worker fatality

A machine operator working for an electrical cable manufacturer was fatally crushed after being pulled into a cable wiring re-spool machine. OSHA inspectors cited Milton, Fla.-based Gulf Cable LLC for 12 violations including failure to install machine guarding to prevent contact with moving parts and failure to have a plan to prevent machines from starting while being serviced. The company also exposed workers to electrical shock hazards by failing to replace cut wiring. Gulf Cable was proposed fines totaling $226,431. Read the news release for more information.

May 31, 2017

OSHA finds safety failures in its investigation of fatal incident
at Florida electrical cable manufacturer

MILTON, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a dozen citations and proposed $226,431 in fines following its investigation into the Nov. 29, 2016, death of a 26-year-old machine operator at a Pensacola-area electrical cable manufacturer.
Milton-based Gulf Cable LLC was cited for failing to take measures to protect Jonathan Gilmore, who was pulled into a re-spool machine and crushed as he attempted to guide electrical wiring cable into the machine. OSHA found the machine lacked the required guarding to prevent him from coming into contact with its moving parts.
“Jonathan Gilmore’s death could have been prevented,” said Brian Sturtecky, O­­SHA’s area director in Jacksonville. “Employers have a responsibility to provide safe work environments for their workers regardless of production schedules. When employers fail to use equipment properly and safely, they put employees at risk of serious injury or worse.”
OSHA issued 12 violations to Gulf Cable for one willful, one repeat, seven serious and three other-than-serious safety violations. The willful citation relates to the company’s failure to install guards to prevent machine operators from coming into contact with the cable as it winds onto the spool.
The agency also cited the employer for one repeat violation for failing to develop, document and utilize hazardous energy control procedures to prevent machines from operating while employees performed service and maintenance.
OSHA issued serious citations to Gulf Cable for failing to:

• Install guardrails on all four sides of machinery in the pit area, exposing workers to trip and fall hazards.
• Repair or replace cut electrical wiring for the emergency-stop foot pedal, exposing workers to electrical shock and electrocution hazards.

The citations for Gulf Cable can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/GULF_CABLE_1193905.pdf
Gulf Cable employs 110 workers at its facility, often running two separate 12-hour shifts with approximately 50 employees on each shift working seven days per week.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Jacksonville Area Office at 904-232-2895.

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Virginia cites Georgia Pacific after hazards cost worker’s life

The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program issued $84,000 in penalties to Georgia Pacific in Big Island for safety violations discovered after a fatal incident in November. VOSH inspectors determined that the company had removed a nip roll guard from a floor opening, and six days later, a worker servicing a paper machine fell through the unguarded hole into a pulp tank and drowned. VOSH inspectors issued citations to the company for two serious and one willful violations.

Employers share their tips for keeping workers safe in extreme heat

Employers share their tips for keeping workers safe in extreme heat

In our last issue, we asked employers and safety professionals to tell us how they are keeping workers safe from extreme heat. Below are a few examples of the responses we received. For more, and to submit your own, visit our heat campaign webpage.








Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries in Springfield, Ill., implements a buddy system within shifts so that workers can keep an eye on each other and report to their supervisor if they notice symptoms of heat illness. It is the company’s policy that new and/or transferred employees be acclimated to the environment by getting frequent breaks during their first two weeks on the job and during heat waves. The company also equips workers with cooling caps and bandanas, and provides earlier shifts and additional breaks, water and sports drinks on days when temperatures are expected to be especially high. Throughout the summer the company sends text messages/emails, and gives posters and toolbox talks to keep workers alert to the hazards of heat exposure.




Ballard Marine Construction uses canopies equipped with hoses to provide its workers with shade and cooling mist that protect them from the heat.


Ballard Marine Construction is a marine infrastructure and utility contractor serving international clients in the nuclear, hydroelectric, salvage, pipeline, and submarine cable industries. The company sets up portable shade canopies outside its dive control vans, with misting hoses woven throughout the frames to cover workers with a fine spray of water throughout the day. The company has also installed misters on its barges and used misting fans to keep its workers cool in high temperatures.

Granite Construction, one of the 25 largest construction companies in the U.S., uses a variety of methods to keep its workers safe from the heat. These include: providing each jobsite supervisor with a portable canopy sun shade; equipping workers with evaporative, cooling neck towels and shades that attach to the back of their hard hats to protect their necks from sun exposure; monitoring the OSHA-NIOSH heat safety app and following its recommendations; and conducting training sessions on heat exposure, how to recognize and treat heat-related illness, and proper hydration.

THE DEADLY ROADS: 2 black women, Magally Paulemont, 49, and the passenger France Novembre, 71, died after their SUV plunges into Rahway River off Garden State Parkway in Clark Twp.

 France Novembre, 71

Magally Paulemont, 49, and the passenger France Novembre, 71

 Magally Paulemont, 49, drowned in the Rahway River



CRANFORD, NJ — An SUV ran off the Garden State Parkway and into the Rahway River late Friday morning, killing two women from Rahway.

The SUV left the northbound lanes and went into the river just before Exit 136 for Centennial Ave, according to State Police Lt. Ted Schafer. The vehicle was fully under water by the time rescue crews arrived.

The driver of the SUV was identified as Magally Paulemont, 49, and the passenger as France Novembre, 71. NJ.com spoke to Paulmont’s son, who confirmed his mother and grandmother had perished in the crash.

Marine rescue responded to the scene in an area where the river runs alongside the Parkway.

It’s not known what caused the SUV to leave the roadway. It was the only vehicle involved in the crash.

Two lanes were blocked for the cleanup and investigation creating a multi-mile delay.

That area of the GSP is deadly: drivers are speeding and they do not obey the basic traffic rules.  It is a lethal combination.
=======================
2 black women dead after their SUV plunges into Rahway River off Garden State Parkway in Clark Twp.



Friday, June 16, 2017 04:25PM

Two people are dead after being pulled from a submerged car that plunged into a river in New Jersey Friday morning.

It happened near Exit 136 on the Garden State Parkway in Clark Township.

Police said a car overturned, then ended up in the Rahway River.

Rescuers pulled the victims from the vehicle, but authorities say it was too late. The identities of the victims are not being released at this time.

The crash is causing serious traffic delays in the area, and lane closures are expected to remain in place for an extended period of time.

7 U.S. Navy sailors were missing and at least two, including the captain, were injured after the U.S. destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal off the coast of Japan before dawn Saturday

Aerial images show heavy damage to the starboard side of the USS Fitzgerald, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan.

TOKYO, Japan -- 

Seven Navy sailors were missing and at least two, including the captain, were injured after a U.S. destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan before dawn Saturday, the U.S. Navy and Japanese coast guard reported.

Footage from the Japanese TV network NHK showed heavy damage to the mid-right side of the USS Fitzgerald and a person in a stretcher being lifted to a helicopter.

The Navy's 7th Fleet said on its Facebook page that the number of injuries is still being determined. The Fitzgerald has limited propulsion after suffering damage on the starboard side below the water line. A U.S. defense official said there is flooding in three compartments.

The Japan coast guard said it received an emergency call from a Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal around 2:20 a.m. (1720 GMT Friday) that it had collided with the USS Fitzgerald southwest of Yokusuka, Japan.

Coast guard official Takeshi Aikawa said seven Navy crew members are unaccounted for, and one had a head injury. Further details of his or her condition were not known.

Relatives of crew members were awaiting news of their loved ones.

"Of course we're nervous and scared and just praying," Rita Schrimsher said by telephone from Athens, Alabama.

Her grandson Jackson Schrimsher is a 23-year-old sailor aboard the Fitzgerald. She said she last communicated with him via Facebook messenger on Wednesday.

Aikawa said the ship was partially flooded because of damage. So far no damage or injuries have been reported on the container ship, he said. NHK reported that the merchant ship had scratches on the left side of its bow.

The Philippine ship is 29,060 tons and is 222 meters (730 feet) long, the coast guard said.

The Navy said that the collision occurred 56 nautical miles (103 kilometers) southwest of Yokosuka, a city south of Tokyo that is home to the 7th Fleet.

The fleet said the USS Dewey, medical assistance and two Navy tugs were being dispatched as quickly as possible and that naval aircraft were being readied to help. The Japan coast guard dispatched five patrol ships and an aircraft carrying medics to the site for search and rescue operations.

The Navy's Pacific Fleet said the extent of injuries and damage to the Fitzgerald are being determined, and the incident is under investigation. ======================

The Latest: Container ship operator says 20-member crew safe

2hr

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) — The Latest on a U.S. Navy ship collision (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Nippon Yusen K.K., the Japanese shipping company that oper

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) — The Latest on a U.S. Navy ship collision (all times local):4:15 p.m.
Nippon Yusen K.K., the Japanese shipping company that operates the container ship that collided with a U.S. Navy destroyer, says its 20-member crew all safe.
The nighttime collision off Japan left seven U.S. Navy sailors from USS Fitzgerald missing. Three, including the captain, have been injured.
Nippon Yusen says in a statement it is collaborating with the ship owner and fully cooperating with the investigation by the coast guard. The 29,060-ton ship, four times the size of the destroyer, is Philippine-flagged and all the crew are Filipinos.
Japan's Kyodo News service says the Japanese coast guard is investigating the incident with the U.S. Navy and plans to question the crew members of the ACX Crystal.
The cause of the collision wasn't immediately clear.

Aerial footage shows damage to a US Navy destroyer that collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan. The US military says there have been injuries. (June 16)

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2:30 p.m.
The U.S. Navy says flooding has been stabilized on the USS Fitzgerald and sailors from the USS Dewey have come aboard to assist after the destroyer was damaged in an overnight collision that left seven crew missing.
The Navy's 7th Fleet reported the developments in an update on the stricken ship that was nearing the port of Yokosuka in Japan. It was using its own limited propulsion after suffering significant damage on the right side below the water line and a U.S. defense official said there was flooding in three compartments.
It wasn't clear yet what caused the nighttime collision between the destroyer and a container ship four times its size. Three crew have been injured and airlifted to shore, including the captain, who was reported in stable condition.
The search for the seven sailors is continuing Saturday.
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1:20 p.m.
An Alabama woman says her grandson contacted her from the USS Fitzgerald to say he's OK after a nighttime collision off Japan left seven crew members missing and three injured.
Rita Schrimsher of Athens, Alabama, tweeted: "Just heard the sweetest voice and saw a wonderful face. He's okay. Thank you all for the prayers."
She says she spoke on Facetime with her 23-year-old grandson Jackson Schrimsher. She says: "It could have been worse so we're grateful."
The search continues for the seven sailors missing. Japan's coast guard says they were thought to have been thrown into the sea or possibly trapped inside damaged sections of the destroyer.
___
10:30 a.m.
The U.S. Navy 7th Fleet says two crew members, including the captain, have been evacuated from a Navy destroyer that collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan. Seven sailors are missing.
The Navy said in a statement that Cmdr. Bryce Benson, the ship's commanding officer, was evacuated to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, home base of the 7th Fleet. It says he was in stable condition.
Details on the second injured person being evacuated were not immediately available.
Navy chief Adm. John Richardson says Navy, Japanese maritime defense vessels and the Japanese coast guard are working to stabilize the badly damaged ship.
___
This item clarifies that Richardson is the head of Navy.
___
8:45 a.m.
Relatives of crew members of a U.S. Navy ship that collided with a merchant ship off Japan are awaiting news of their loved ones.
Rita Schrimsher of Athens, Alabama, said "of course we're nervous and scared and just praying."
Her grandson Jackson Schrimsher is a 23-year-old sailor aboard the USS Fitzgerald. She said she last communicated with him via Facebook messenger on Wednesday.
Seven crew members are unaccounted for after the U.S. destroyer collided with a Philippine-flagged merchant ship early Saturday morning. At least one was injured.
___
8:30 a.m.
The U.S. Navy says the USS Fitzgerald suffered damage below the water line on its starboard side after it collided with a Philippine-flagged merchant ship.
It says the destroyer's propulsion is limited.
The Navy says the USS Dewey, medical assistance and two Navy tugs are being dispatched as quickly as possible. Naval aircraft are also being readied to help.
The Japan Coast Guard has confirmed that seven crew members are missing and one is injured. The injured sailor had a head injury, but the details of his or her condition were unknown.
___
8 a.m.
The Japan Coast Guard has confirmed that seven crew members of a U.S. Navy destroyer are missing after a collision with a Philippine-flagged merchant ship off the coast of Japan.
Japan Coast Guard official Takeshi Aikawa said the USS Fitzgerald reports that seven are unaccounted for and one is injured.
The injured sailor had a head injury, but details of his or her condition were unknown.
Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK showed a person in a stretcher being lifted from the deck to a Japan Coast Guard helicopter.
Aikawa said the U.S. ship is partially flooded because of damage and not capable of moving by itself.
He added that so far no damage or injuries to the container ship or its crew members have been reported.
The coast guard dispatched five patrol ships and an aircraft carrying medics to the site for search and rescue operations.
___
7:45 a.m.
Japanese broadcaster NHK reports that one person is injured and seven others unaccounted on a U.S. Navy ship after it collided with a merchant vessel in waters off Japan.
NHK footage on Saturday morning showed a person in a stretcher being taken up to a helicopter from the deck of the USS Fitzgerald.
The Navy said that the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant ship 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. A U.S. defense official said there is flooding in three compartments of the Fitzgerald.
The U.S. 7th Fleet says on its Facebook page that it is working with the Japanese Coast Guard to conduct a medical evacuation for a sailor by helicopter, and that there are currently no reports of deaths.
___
7:15 a.m.
A U.S. Navy destroyer has collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan, the U.S. military said, and there have been injuries.
The U.S. 7th Fleet said on its Facebook page that the collision was with Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal. It says the Japanese Coast Guard is on scene.
Live footage shot from a helicopter Saturday morning by Japanese broadcaster NHK showed heavy damage to the mid-right side of the Navy ship, which appeared to be stationary in the water. People were standing on various parts of the deck.
The Navy said that the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant ship 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. A U.S. defense official said there is flooding in three compartments of the Fitzgerald, and there were injuries.
___
7 a.m.
A U.S. Navy destroyer has collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan, the U.S. military said, and there have been injuries.
In a brief written statement, the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii said the Navy has requested assistance from the Japanese Coast Guard.
Live footage shot from a helicopter Saturday morning by Japanese broadcaster NHK showed heavy damage to the mid-right side of the Navy ship, which appeared to be stationary in the water. People were standing on various parts of the deck.
The Navy said that the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant ship 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan, a city south of Tokyo that is home to a U.S. Naval base. A U.S. defense official said there is flooding in three compartments of the Fitzgerald, and there were injuries.
The Pacific Fleet said the extent of injuries and damage to the Fitzgerald are "being determined," and the incident is under investigation.
In this photo released by Japan's Defense Ministry, an injured USS Fitzgerald personnel is carried by U.S. military personnel, left, and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force members upon arriving to the U.S. Naval base in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo, after the U.S. destroyer collided with the Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal in the waters off the Izu Peninsula Saturday, June 17, 2017. Seven Navy sailors were missing and at least two, including the captain, were injured after the collision off the coast of Japan before dawn Saturday, the U.S. Navy and Japanese coast guard reported. (Japan's Defense Ministry via AP)

U.S. military personnel prepare to transfer an injured on board USS Fitzgerald, off Izu Peninsula, Japan, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The Japan coast guard said it received an emergency call from a Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal early Saturday that it had collided with the Fitzgerald southwest of Yokusuka, Japan. (Japan's Defense Ministry via AP)

The damage of the right side of the USS Fitzgerald is seen off Shimoda, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The U.S. Navy says the USS Fitzgerald suffered damage below the water line on its starboard side after it collided with a Philippine-flagged merchant ship. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

The damage of Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal is seen off Izu Oshima, Japan, after it collided with the USS Fitzgerald, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The Japan coast guard said it received an emergency call from a Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal early Saturday that it had collided with the USS Fitzgerald. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

CORRECTS DATE - The USS Fitzgerald is seen off Shimoda, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship, Saturday, June 17, 2017. Seven crew members are missing and one injured after the U.S. Navy destroyer collided early Saturday morning with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan, the country's coast guard reported. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

CORRECTS DATE - The Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal is seen off Izu Oshima, Japan, after it collided with the USS Fitzgerald southwest of Yokusuka, Japan, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The U.S. Navy says the USS Fitzgerald suffered damage below the water line on its starboard side after it collided with the Philippine-flagged merchant ship. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

CORRECTS DATE - The USS Fitzgerald is seen off Shimoda, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The Japan Coast Guard said it received an emergency call from a Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal early Saturday that it had collided with the USS Fitzgerald southwest of Yokusuka, Japan. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

CORRECTS DATE - The damage of Philippine-registered container ship ACX Crystal is seen off Izu Oshima, Japan, after it had collided with the USS Fitzgerald southwest of Yokusuka, Japan, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The U.S. Navy says the USS Fitzgerald suffered damage below the water line on its starboard side after it collided with the Philippine-flagged merchant ship. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

CORRECTS DATE - The USS Fitzgerald is seen off Shimoda, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The U.S. Navy says the USS Fitzgerald suffered damage below the water line on its starboard side after it collided with a Philippine-flagged merchant ship. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

CORRECTS DATE - The damage of the right side of the USS Fitzgerald is seen off Shimoda, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship, Saturday, June 17, 2017. The U.S. Navy says the USS Fitzgerald suffered damage below the water line on its starboard side after it collided with a Philippine-flagged merchant ship. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

The damage of the right side of the USS Fitzgerald is seen off Shimoda, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, after the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship, Saturday, June 17, 2017. Seven Navy sailors are missing and one was injured after a U.S. destroyer collided early Saturday morning with the Philippine-registered container ship off the coast of Japan, the country's coast guard reported. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

Map locates Yokosuka. Japan; 1c x 3 inches; 46.5 mm x 76 mm;

In this March 7, 2017, the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) launches a missile from the aft missile deck during Multisail 17, a training exercise designed to improve interoperability between the U.S. and Japanese forces, in the Philippine Sea. The U.S. Navy destroyer has collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan, the U.S. military said, and there have been injuries. In a brief written statement, the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii said the Navy has requested assistance from the Japanese Coast Guard. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William McCann/U.S. Navy via AP)

In this June 1, 2017 photo, the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald, foreground, (DDG 62) makes its way with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, through the Sea of Japan. The U.S. military said the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan and said there have been injuries. In a brief written statement, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii said the Navy has requested assistance from the Japanese Coast Guard. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelsey L. Adams/US Navy via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) pulls into Dry Dock 5 in Yokosuka, Japan on June 15, 2016. The U.S. military says the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan and says there have been injuries. In a brief written statement, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii said the Navy has requested assistance from the Japanese Coast Guard. It said June 16. that the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant ship 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka. (Patrick Dionne/U.S. Navy via AP)

In this Aug. 20, 2013 photo, the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) makes its way through the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. military said the Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan and said there have been injuries. In a brief written statement, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii said the Navy has requested assistance from the Japanese Coast Guard. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul Kelly/U.S. Navy via AP)

Aerial footage shows damage to a US Navy destroyer that collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan. The US military says there have been injuries. (June 16)

 Source: http://www.cetusnews.com/views/rkgBYjLGQZ?cat=news&title=The-Latest%3A-Container-ship-operator-says-20-member-crew-safe