Pedestrian Percy Rengifo, 63, was struck and killed by a Bergen County vehicle driven by an employee of Bergen County Prosecutor's Office in the parking lot of Riverfront Plaza on South River Street in Hackensack, NJ

HACKENSACK, NJ — Percy Rengifo, who was struck and killed by a county-owned pickup truck driven by an unidentified employee of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, was a cook who loved to talk to people about food.

At least once a week, he would go to the Hackensack Liquor Store in Riverfront Plaza, on South River Street, and pick up a pack of Budweiser. On his way out, he would often talk to Santos Sheth and Tony Shah, owners of the liquor store, about his favorite topic.

“He was one of the best guys,” said Sheth. “No hassle. He was always talking about food.”

On the afternoon of July 10, as Rengifo was walking out of the liquor store and crossing the parking lot, he was struck by the pickup truck driven by a unidentified employee of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Rengifo, 63, died the next day, but his identity was only confirmed by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, which is leading the investigation into Rengifo's death, this week.


Percy Rengifo, 63, was struck and killed July 10 by a county vehicle driven by an employee of Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. (Photo: Courtesy of Mauricio Rengifo Munoz)

More than 30 years ago, Rengifo moved to the city from Peru. He lived here with his late wife, Carmen, and son, Percy Rengifo Jr. As a cook, he would wear slip-resistant, rubberized black Crocs designed for food service.

At the accident scene, after Rengifo had already been transported to the Hackensack University Medical Center, the Ford F35 pickup truck with county license plates sat idle. To the left of the truck was a pair of what appeared to be black rubber Crocs and cans of Budweiser were strewn across the lot.

“My brother-in-law’s shoes are there,” said Oscar Tolentino, Rengifo’s brother-in-law, referring to a photo of the scene of the accident.

Shortly after the accident, Rengifo was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center. He died from a traumatic brain injury at about 3 p.m., said Mauricio Rengifo Munoz, Rengifo’s son.

Authorities initially reported that the man later identified at Rengifo was a 61-year-old South Hackensack resident. His family confirmed that he was 63-years-old and lived in Hackensack.

Since the driver of the truck involved in the accident is a Bergen County Prosecutor's Office employee, the state Attorney General's office transferred investigative duties to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office at the Bergen prosecutor's request to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. A records request for information surrounding the accident, including toxicology reports, was submitted to Passaic County on Tuesday by The Record and NorthJersey.com, but records were not immediately available.

Calls to the Hackensack Police Department, which is assisting Passaic County investigators, were not returned.

Information on the accident and Rengifo’s condition has been sparse and slow to come, said Tolentino. Rengifo’s family was only notified around 4 or 5 p.m., he said. Tolentino, who lives in Hackensack, said that once he and family members arrived at the hospital, they were notified that Rengifo had been intubated and taken to surgery for his brain injury.

“We don’t even know the name of the person," Tolentino said referring to the driver of the truck. "Or have a photo of the person.”

Munoz, who lives in Lima, Peru, only found out about his father’s death the next day when a cousin called him to let him know his father had been hit.

“My cousin Lucia, called me crying and asked to speak to my mother,” said Munoz. “Even at that moment, 7 a.m. in Peru, he was still intubated. He was near-death.” 



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







HACKENSACK, NJ — A 61-year-old man was struck in the parking lot of Riverfront Plaza on South River Street, authorities said.

Officers from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the city Police Department are investigating Monday's accident.

“We were requested by the Hackensack Police to investigate an accident of a pedestrian struck in the parking lot of this place,” said William Schievella, a Bergen County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

The accident occurred in front of the Plaza Bagels Deli and Hackensack Liquors Store at about 1:30 p.m., a time when the lot is heavily traveled, Schievella said.

He also confirmed that the truck involved appeared to be a county government-owned vehicle. The Ford pickup truck, which members of the Sheriff’s Office were taking pictures of, has county government license plates. There are no other markings on the truck.

The victim was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center. Schievella could not confirm the victim’s condition. However, he confirmed that the Hackensack Police Department had reported the accident as a potentially serious injury.

Members of the Sheriff's Office's crime scene unit took photos of the scene and the agency's criminal investigation mobile unit was on scene in addition to five sheriff's office vehicles. The county's fatal accident unit also responded. There was one Hackensack Police Department vehicle on scene.

Investigators were seen searching through a Scion sedan in the plaza's parking lot.

Calls to the Hackensack Police Department were not immediately returned.

HISPANIC WORKER'S BLOOD IS BUILDING THE UNITED STATES: 42-year-old construction worker Fausto Flores, was cutting a wooden rail on the fourth floor when he accidentally lost his balance and fell to the ground below

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A construction worker was killed after falling from the fourth floor of an apartment.

Authorities said the incident happened at an apartment building under construction in the 600 block of 11th Avenue North in The Gulch.

Reports stated the worker, identified as 42-year-old Fausto Flores, was cutting a wooden rail on the fourth floor when he accidentally lost his balance and fell to the ground below.

Authorities said Flores died at the scene. No further details were immediately available. 

The statistics show that disproportionately greater number of Hispanic workers are killed on the job: illegal immigrants, luck of training, threats and pressure to do the job with minimal safeguards, and so on.  The Hispanic workers appear to be doing the dangerous jobs that other Americans would not do.  And then this idiot Trump wants to limit the Hispanic immigrants?  Crazy shit, folks.



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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A construction worker fell to his death this morning in The Gulch.

The man who died after falling from the fourth floor of an apartment building in the 600 block of 11th Avenue North is identified by Metro Nashville police as 42-year-old Fausto Flores of Nashville. He reportedly lost his balance while cutting a wooden handrail.Flores died at the scene.

DRUNK DRIVERS KILL MORE PEOPLE: Two drivers were killed after one of the drivers drove the wrong way on Indian Head Highway (MD 210), crashing head-on into the other driver. The impact smashed both cars to pieces.

Two men were killed Friday after one man drove the wrong way on a highway in Prince George's County, crashing head-on into the other man's car, police say.

The driver of the first car drove northbound in the southbound lanes of Indian Head Highway (MD 210). About 2:40 a.m., he crashed into the other car. 

Most drunk- (or DWI, in general) crashes occur in the early a.m. hours, like this one.

Both men, who were not identified immediately, were pronounced dead at the scene. The impact smashed both cars to pieces.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.


Four people have died on the road since January.

"It's always something on 210," one man who often drives there said.

Rev. Robert Screen, another regular on the road, said he has counted close to 30 people killed on the highway in the past 10 years. He called for new speed cameras, more police patrols and -- perhaps most difficult -- changes in drivers' behavior. He said he's often horrified by what he sees drivers do on the busy strip.

2 Men Killed After Wrong-Way Driver Collides With VehicleTwo men were killed Friday morning after one of the men drove the wrong way along a busy Prince George's County road, crashing head-on into the other driver.(Published Friday, July 21, 2017)

"It's the speeding. It's the riding the shoulders at breakneck speed. It's things that people would do that you know safety is not the primary thing that they have in mind. What's the primary thing on their mind? Getting where I need to go as quickly as I want," he said.

Earlier this month, a Maryland father was killed while driving along the busy road in Accokeek, Maryland.

James Hill was on Indian Head Highway, on his way home from work, when a Ford smashed into his minivan at Pine Drive. He died a short time later.

Prior to the crash, witnesses told police they saw several drivers speeding and driving recklessly.


Last month, six people were injured when a car and pickup truck collided along Indian Head Highway near Palmer Road.

State police said they will look into signage, signals and lighting to try to prevent future crashes. 

======



FORT WASHINGTON, Md. - Two male drivers died early Friday morning after a head-on crash on a Prince George's County highway. Prince George's County police say one of the men was driving the wrong way on Route 210 when his vehicle slammed into another vehicle, killing both drivers.

The crash happened between Kerby Hill Road and Palmer Road on Route 210 (Indian Head Highway) in Fort Washington around 2:30 am. The vehicles came to a stop in the southbound lanes after one of them, a Dodge Charger, caught fire.

The crash had a major impact on traffic in the area, as Route 210, a heavily-traveled highway heading into the city from Prince George's County, was completely shut down.

Northbound lanes were reopened just before 7 a.m. and southbound lanes were reopened at about 8 a.m.

Authorities said their investigation into the crash was ongoing.  It appears that the wrong-way driver was drunk or drugged, based on the time of the night and the wrong-way driving on such a huge highway:  only impaired drivers can drive the wrong-way in this fashion.

Robert Streett, 52, and his 16-year-old son Robby killed, his wife and his 14-year old son Sawyer injured, when a speeding SUV driven by 36-year-old Anthony Rodriguez of Mancos hydroplaned into the eastbound lane, crashing into their SUV on U.S. Highway 160 in the Cherry Creek area west of Hesperus

Authorities on Friday identified the two victims killed in a head-on crash Thursday on U.S. Highway 160 in the Cherry Creek area west of Hesperus.

The crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. just east of the Montezuma-La Plata County line at mile marker 68 when a male driver in an SUV headed westbound toward Mancos hydroplaned into the eastbound lane, crashing into an SUV with a family of four.


A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help with the Streett family’s medical expenses. It is at https://www.gofundme.com/street-family-support-fund
   
Colorado State Patrol Capt. Adrian Driscoll said the fatalities involved two of the occupants in the SUV with the family of four: Robert Streett, 52, and a 16-year-old male.


Driscoll said Streett died at the scene of the crash. The 16-year-old male died at Mercy Regional Medical Center.

Streett’s wife, Joslyn, and a 14-year-old male, were transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center. Jann Smith, La Plata County Coroner, said Joslyn was airlifted to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver on Thursday night.

Smith said Friday morning that Joslyn and the 14-year-old male were doing well.

Driscoll said the family, driving a Honda Pilot, is from Sequim, Washington, about a two-hour drive northwest of Seattle.

Driscoll said 36-year-old Anthony Rodriguez of Mancos was the driver of the Nissan Armada that was traveling westbound when the vehicle hydroplaned after a sudden downpour of rain.

Rodriguez was reported to be alert and talking to first-responders at the scene, Cpl. Lance Sanchez said Thursday. A spokesman with Mercy said Friday morning Rodriguez is listed in fair condition.

Driscoll said the crash is under investigation and he could not comment at this time whether drugs or alcohol played a factor. He did say charges are pending.

The crash closed U.S. Highway 160 for about three hours.

Hispanic drivers commit disproportionately high number of accidents, the federal statistics show (along with blacks, as well).  It has to do with their "macho" culture - where males are doing whatever the heck they want with no peer pressure to slow down.  This driver 36-year-old Anthony Rodriguez of Mancos was originally from New Mexico, so it is possible he was not used into driving in wet Colorado roads.    

THE DEADLY U.S. ROADS

In any event, this is unfortunately the status quo of the U.S. roads, where 40,000 people are slaughtered each year and millions injured;  U.S. has one of the worst traffic accident records in the world despite the reduction in the traffic deaths from the 60,000 killed in the 70s.  So many illegal immigrants roam the roads without proper license or training, that it is a real bloodbath out there.  So, always be on the lookout and say a prayer before you drive.
================



SEQUIM, WA — Two Sequim residents died from their injuries in a head-on-crash Thursday evening traveling on U.S. Highway 160 in Colorado, reported the Colorado State Patrol.

Robert Streett, 52, of Sequim, died on scene and a 16-year-old male in the vehicle, believed to be his older son Robby, died later at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, said Trooper Josh Lewis with Colorado State Patrol.

Lewis said the Streetts — including his wife Josslyn, 49, and a 14-year-old male, believed to be their youngest son, Sawyer — were traveling east of the La Plata County line in a 2017 Honda SUV at 5:15 p.m. when a 2013 Nissan traveling west hydroplaned and crossed the centerline, colliding with the Streetts’ vehicle.

Lewis said the Nissan’s driver, 36-year-old Anthony Rodriguez, of Mancos, Colo., Josslyn and the two teens were transported to Durango.


Representatives of the hospital said Josslyn was transported later to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood. Representatives there say she is in fair condition.

Hospital representatives in Durango said they could not release Sawyer’s status because he is a minor, but the Colorado State Patrol said he sustained serious injuries.

Rodriguez is listed in fair condition.

Lewis said speed is a factor in the wreck. No drugs or alcohol were involved and everyone was wearing a seat belt, he said.

The Streetts, according to Robert’s Facebook page, were traveling on vacation, including seeing the Grand Canyon.

Robert owns Clear Water Bidet in Carlsborg and was active in numerous agencies and groups including the North Olympic Library System, Sequim Sunrise Rotary and Citizens for Sequim Schools.

Robby attended Sequim High School.

Family friend Brian Jackson started a gofundme page to help the Streett family.

“I would love to see the community support them the way they supported the community,” he said.

“Joss and their youngest son will have so much to deal with. I only hope that we can help relieve some of the financial burden.”

For more information about supporting the family, visit www.gofundme.com/street-family-support-fund.

SPEED KILLS: Speeding driver kills himself and two passengers in a fiery crash in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Ryan Tuazon, Joshua deGuzman and deGuzman’s girlfriend, Kassandra Kim all badly charred

Joshua deGuzman and deGuzman’s girlfriend, Kassandra Kim

Ryan Tuazon

A family member identified the three people who died in a single-car crash in Ewa as Ryan Tuazon, Joshua deGuzman and deGuzman’s girlfriend, Kassandra Kim.

At about 8 p.m. Thursday, a 2010 Scion was traveling westbound on the highway when it lost control and flipped over. Police said the vehicle struck a concrete pillar that supports the rail guideway.

The car burst into flames upon impact.

Honolulu police Lt. Andre Peters said, “The whole interior of the vehicle is gutted.”

Police said the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control, and the car likely struck the curb along Farrington Highway just west of Old Fort Weaver Road, before flipping over and crashing into a concrete support pillar for the rail guideway.

The mangled car landed on its roof, with its tires in the air, on a grassy area on the mauka side of the roadway.

The victims in the crash were so badly charred that emergency responders initially could not say whether they were male or female, police said.

Peters said because of the rail project, the roadway had been closed along Farrington Highway, and had just recently reopened.

Tuazon and deGuzman, both 27, and Kim were pronounced dead at the scene.

Kim and deGuzman have a 9-month old son. These are the 23rd, 24th and 25th traffic-related fatalities on Oahu compared to 28 at the same time last year.

More idiot young persons drinking and doing drugs and speeding and reaching their final destination at an early time.  We know that the male brain does not mature until the mid- to late 20s;  so, stupid stunts like that are not uncommon.  Darwin's Law at work here.  Learn and live: SPEED KILLS.

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



Family and loved ones are mourning the loss of three friends who died in a fiery crash in Ewa Thursday night.

It happened at around 8 p.m. on Farrington Highway next to Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health Center.

Lt. Andre Peters with HPD’s Traffic Division said the 2010 Scion was speeding when it “flipped and collided with concrete pillar. All occupants were trapped in vehicle when it sparked, when it caught fire.”

Crews extinguished the fire and found three victims, the driver, front seat passenger and backseat passenger, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

Family members identified them as Ryan Tuazon, 27, Josh DeGuzman, 27, and DeGuzman’s girlfriend, Kassandra Kim. The couple leaves behind a 9-month-old child. Ryan Tuazon (Photo: Tuazon family)

Tuazon’s parents first learned the horrible news after receiving a visit from police officers shortly after the crash.

When Angela Tuazon saw two police officers on her doorstep, her heart sank.

“I let them in. Officer, one lady, one man. I tell them, ‘Look at me in the eye. Tell me if my son is still alive. You’re not here for no reason,'” she said.

The family also received a call from the medical examiner, who asked for Tuazon’s dental records, because his body was badly burned in the crash.

Reality is sinking in for the Tuazon family, who says the electrician by trade will be missed.

“My son is a good boy. No problem to my boy. He comes home, lie down, watch TV, Playstation, that’s all,” Angela Tuazon said. “I’m waiting for him to come home. My son is not dead. I ain’t going to admit that.”

Police believe Tuazon was the driver. His family spoke with the DeGuzmans after receiving the news.

Josh deGuzman’s father, Mike DeGuzman, told KHON2, “Police called them saying Ryan got into an accident. Then right there, everything just added up into my head, because I knew there was a car crash. Three people died, and I knew there were three people in the car. I put two and two together, and I started to cry.” Kassandra Kim, son Kaleb, and Josh deGuzman (Photo: deGuzman family)

“They grew up together, kindergarten all the way to high school. They remained friends all this time, to this day. They did everything together,” said Mike DeGuzman, who is a member of the Society of Seven entertainers.

Mike DeGuzman says his son shared his love for music, and showed us his personal ukulele imprinted with his middle name, Ikaika.

“Ikaika means strength, and that was my boy,” he said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page for the couple’s son, Kaleb Kekoa.

“I wish I could bring them back, him and Kassie,” Mike DeGuzman said. “She was a lovely lady. Very caring, great mom, great girlfriend, future wife. He made me so proud so many times. He made me really proud.”

Police shut down Farrington Highway in both directions between Kahi Mohala and The Queen’s Medical Center West to investigate and clear the scene. The road was reopened just after midnight.

Police are still investigating what exactly led up to the crash.

These are the 23rd, 24th and 25th traffic fatalities of 2017, compared to 28 last year.

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





EWA BEACH, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Speed is believed to be a factor in a fiery, single-car crash in Ewa Beach on Thursday night that killed three people.

Family and friends identified the victims as Joshua deGuzman and Kassandra Kim, who had a 9-month-old son together, and their good friend Ryan Tuazon. All three were in their late 20s.

On Facebook, deGuzman's sister wrote a painful tribute to those who were lost and pledged to help take care of the couple's child.

"To my baby brother, I love you," wrote Michele Hokulani Markwith on a GoFundMe page established for the couple's son. "And I will carry you in my heart until we meet again."

Markwith also told Hawaii News Now that her brother was "caring, very kind, very patient."

"He had a lot of aloha for everyone he met," she said.

Tuazon's mother, Angela, said she hasn't yet come to grips that her son is gone.

"To me, I feel like he's just at work; he never come home yet," she said. "My son is a good loving person, no trouble. He's too young to die."

The crash happened about 8 p.m. on Farrington Highway near Kahi Mohala.

Honolulu police said a 2010 Scion was traveling westbound on Farrington when the driver apparently lost control, causing the car to flip over before slamming into a concrete pillar and catching fire.

Traffic investigators said the driver, front and rear passengers were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Officials said the crash happened during clear weather, which is why they suspect speed may be a factor.

The speed limit in that stretch of Farrington Highway is 35 mph.

Lanes were shut down during the investigation, but they have since been reopened.

The deaths mark the 23rd, 24th and 25th traffic-related fatalities this year compared to 28 this same time last year.

Two California police officers were injured with burn and blast injuries they suffered during a K-9 training session in South Gate

SOUTH GATE, CA - Two police officers — one from South Gate, the other from Downey — were hospitalized today with burn and blast injuries they suffered during a K-9 training session in South Gate, authorities said.

Fire crews responded about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday to the explosion in the 5600 block of Imperial Highway, between Garfield Avenue and the Los Angeles River, said a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher.

The two officers were injured while conducting a canine training exercise inside an unoccupied commercial building, said sheriff’s Deputy Lisa Jansen, whose agency is investigating the incident. The training was not immediately described in detail.

There was also an electrical fire during the training session, resulting in both officers being seriously burned, Jansen said. The officers suffered burns to their faces and upper bodies, authorities said.

The officers were taken to a hospital and were in fair condition this morning, Jansen said, adding they were improving.

The cause of the explosion and electrical fire was under investigation.

The Downey officer is a 17-year veteran while the other officer has been in the Downey Police Department 10 years, according to broadcast reports.



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



A corporal from the Downey Police Department and an officer from South Gate were hospitalized Thursday with burn and blast injuries they suffered during a K-9 training session in South Gate, authorities said.

Fire crews responded about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday to the explosion in the 5600 block of Imperial Highway, between Garfield Avenue and the Los Angeles River, said a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher.

The corporal and officer were injured while conducting a canine training exercise inside an unoccupied commercial building, said sheriff’s Deputy Lisa Jansen, whose agency is investigating the incident.

There was also an electrical fire during the training session, resulting in both being seriously burned with injuries to their faces and upper bodies, authorities said.

The two were taken to a hospital and were in fair condition this morning, Jansen said, adding they were improving.

The cause of the explosion and electrical fire was under investigation.

The Downey corporal is a 17-year veteran while the other officer has been in the South Gate Police Department 10 years, according to a broadcast report.

City officials visited the two and remain in close contact with their families, according to Shannon DeLong of the Downey city manager’s office.

Mayor Fernando Vasquez, Mayor Pro Tem Sean Ashton and council members Alex Saab, Rick Rodriguez and Blanca Pacheco all issued statement of support.

“Please keep our injured officers and their families in your thoughts and prayers,” Ashton said.

Pacheco said the “accident is a poignant reminder of the risks that law enforcement officers take in ensuring our communities are safe.”


Statistics show that 20-30 percent of the military and police injuries/deaths injured occur during training exercises.