NEW JERSEY MAN ACCUSED OF STAGING BOAT CRASH PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FRAUD

MAY 12, 2015 

MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP)

A New Jersey man who disappeared after authorities say he staged a boating accident has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges.

Andrew Biddle, of Egg Harbor Township, entered his pleas during an arraignment hearing Tuesday.

Prosecutors say the charges stem from a series of fraudulent transactions that Biddle and another man committed through their boat sales business. Biddle has not yet been charged in relation to his disappearance.

The 45-year-old Biddle was reported missing July 20 after he and another man went into the water when their pontoon boat hit a buoy in Longport. His friend swam to shore and called police to say Biddle was missing.

The Coast Guard searched for Biddle, but law enforcement officials said two weeks later they believed the accident was staged.

Toddler killed, 3 others injured in fiery crash on Route 95, Warwick, R.I.

May 12, 2015

WARWICK, R.I.

A fiery rollover in the median of Route 95 near the Route 4 split Monday night claimed the life of a 3-year-old child despite the efforts of Good Samaritans who saved two adults and a 5-year-old from the vehicle before rescuers arrived.

State Police Lt. Mark Farnum said early Tuesday that the crash occurred around 9 p.m. Monday in the wooded median about a mile north of the Route 4 split.

A news release from the Rhode Island State Police on Tuesday afternoon said the southbound vehicle had veered left across all lanes of travel and into the median, where it struck a tree. It flipped and burst into flames, and the Wickford Barracks received multiple 911 calls, the news release said.

Before troopers and the Warwick Fire Department arrived, Good Samaritans were able to pull out the driver, Robert Souza, 34, Lindsey Clark, 25, and Savannah Clark, 5, all of the same North Kingstown address.

A trooper and a Good Samaritan entered the burning vehicle several times to reach Adonis Clark, 3, who was secured in a child restraint in the back seat. Intense heat, smoke and flames thwarted them.

The 3-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, the news release said.

Both adults were taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries and are in critical condition, police said. Savannah Clark was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The trooper was treated at Kent Hospital for cuts on his face and arm and minor burns on his arm.

The state police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call the Wickford Barracks at (401) 444-1064.

CORONER RELEASES NAME OF WORKER KILLED ON THE JOB AT CARDINAL ALUMINUM

MAY 12, 2015

LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB)

We now know the name of the worker killed in a workplace accident at cardinal aluminum on Monday.

According to deputy coroner Joanne Farmer, 26-year-old Kristopher Cook of Louisville was pronounced dead at 7:56 a.m. inside the plant. The cause of death was listed as traumatic head injury.


Police say Cook was reaching for equipment when a piece of machinery hit him in the head.
Funeral arrangements are pending.  RIP.

TIPS SOUGHT IN EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO APARTMENT FIRE THAT WAS RULED ARSON

MAY 12, 2015

EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO

The State Fire Marshal is seeking information regarding a fire ruled an arson in East Cleveland.

Officials say the blaze started Tuesday morning before 9 a.m. in the basement/laundry area at the Euclid Emerald Apartments at 13444 Euclid Ave. Firefighters rescued several residents in the apartments.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by the Blue Ribbon Arson Committee for information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the fire.

"We need your help to solve this case. Information from the public can help tremendously," said State Fire Marshal Larry L. Flowers. "Even if you don't think the information is relevant, it could bring the entire case together for our investigators."

The investigation is being conducted in conjunction with the East Cleveland Police Department and the East Cleveland Fire Department.

Anyone with information is asked to call the State Fire Marshal's Fire & Explosion Investigation Bureau at 1-800-589-2728.

CSX TRAIN DERAILS IN NORTH CHARLESTON, NO INJURIES OR SPILLS REPORTED

MAY 12, 2015

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC

Intersections shut down due to train derailment in North Charleston Tuesday afternoon are now open.  
Around 2:05 p.m. Tuesday afternoon a CSX train derailed at East Montague and Railroad Avenue.
Charleston County School District released the following regarding the train derailment:
Please be aware that due to a train derailment on Montague Ave. near the Liberty Hill neighborhood of North Charleston, some CCSD buses may experience slight delays this afternoon if they need to be re-routed.  This may include bus routes in other areas around the county.
Individual schools will communicate with their parent communities if car riders need to be re-routed, in the case of schools which may be directly impacted.

CSX officials released a statement saying one of their trains traveling from Florence derailed three empty hopper cars inside Bennett Rail Yard on its way to Hamlet, N.C.

No injuries were reported and nothing from the cars was released.