3 U.S. soldiers missing after a Grumman C-2 "Greyhound" transport aircraft crashed into the Pacific about 150 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Okinotorishima, a Japanese atoll. It was taking part in an ongoing joint U.S.-Japan naval exercise.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017




TOKYO, JAPAN (AP) - The Latest on the crash in the Pacific of a U.S. Navy plane flying to the USS Ronald Reagan (all times local):



7:40 p.m.

The U.S. Navy says eight people who were recovered from the crash of a transport aircraft in the Pacific are in good condition and the search continues for three other missing personnel.

The Navy says in a tweet that the eight are on board the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier.

Their C-2 "Greyhound" transport plane crashed while on its way to the carrier on Wednesday in the Philippine Sea, where the U.S. and Japanese navies are holding exercises.

___

5:15 p.m.

Japan's defense minister says eight of the crew and passengers on a plane that crashed while en route to the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier have been found, but it's unclear if they're alive.

The Defense Ministry says it had no information on their condition.

A spokesman quoted Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera as telling reporters Wednesday that the C-2 aircraft crashed into the Pacific about 150 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Okinotorishima, a Japanese atoll. It was taking part in an ongoing joint U.S.-Japan naval exercise.

The U.S. Navy says the aircraft was carrying 11 crew and passengers.

___

4:50 p.m.

The U.S. Navy says an aircraft carrying 11 crew and passengers has crashed into the Pacific Ocean while on the way to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.

The Japan-based 7th Fleet says in a statement that the search and rescue operation has been launched from the carrier.

It says the ship was operating in the Philippine Sea when the crash occurred at 2:45 p.m. Japan time.

It says the names of the crew and passengers are being withheld pending next of kin notification.

US Navy plane with 11 aboard crashes into Pacific; 8 rescued Wednesday, November 22nd 2017, 3:01 am ESTWednesday, November 22nd 2017, 7:33 am EST








U.S. Navy Aircraft Crashes in Philippine Sea

By Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs | | November 22, 2017


PHILIPPINE SEA -- A United States Navy aircraft carrying 11 crew and passengers crashed into the ocean southeast of Okinawa at approximately 2:45 p.m. today.

The names of the crew and passengers are being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Personnel recovery is underway and their condition will be evaluated by USS Ronald Reagan medical staff.

The aircraft was en-route to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which is currently operating in the Philippine Sea.

USS Ronald Reagan is conducting search and rescue operations. The cause of the crash is not known at this time.



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



In this March 22, 2007, file photo, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, bottom, anchors as U.S. Aegis Ship passes after they arrive at Busan port for joint military exercises in Busan, South Korea. (Source: AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

By KEN MORITSUGU
Associated Press


TOKYO (AP) - Eight people were rescued and three remained missing after a U.S. Navy plane crashed into the western Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, the Navy said.

The C-2 "Greyhound" transport aircraft came down about 500 nautical miles (925 kilometers) southeast of Okinawa as it was bringing passengers and cargo from Japan to the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, the Navy said in a statement.

The Reagan was operating in the Philippine Sea during a joint exercise with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force when the twin-propeller plane crashed at 2:45 p.m. Japan time. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear and the incident will be investigated, the Navy said.

Eight people were rescued about 40 minutes later. They were taken to the Reagan for medical evaluation and are in good condition, the Navy said.

U.S. and Japanese naval ships and aircraft are searching for the missing. Japan's Defense Ministry said the crash site is about 150 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Okinotorishima, a Japanese atoll.

The names of the crew and passengers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Philippine military spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla said his military alerted its ships and aircraft shortly after learning about the crash but could not provide help because of the distance from the country.

The Nov. 16-26 joint exercise in waters off Okinawa has been described by the Navy as the "premier training event" between the U.S. and Japanese navies, designed to increase defensive readiness and interoperability in air and sea operations.

The Navy's Japan-based 7th Fleet has had two fatal accidents in Asian waters this year, leaving 17 sailors dead and prompting the removal of eight top Navy officers from their posts, including the 7th Fleet commander.

The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided near Singapore in August, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead. Seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided off Japan.

The Navy has concluded that the collisions were avoidable and resulted from widespread failures by the crews and commanders, who didn't quickly recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies. A Navy report recommended numerous changes to address the problems, ranging from improved training to increasing sleep and stress management for sailors.

Date:	22-NOV-2017
Time:	14:45 LT
Type:	Grumman C-2 Greyhound
Owner/operator:	US Navy (USN)
Registration:
C/n / msn:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 11
Airplane damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	SE of Okinawa, Philippine Sea -   Pacific Ocean
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Destination airport:	USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)

Narrative:
A United States Navy aircraft carrying 11 crew and passengers crashed into the ocean southeast of Okinawa at approximately 2:45 p.m. The aircraft was en-route to the carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which is currently operating in the Philippine Sea. U.S. and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force ships and aircraft are conducting search and rescue operations in the Philippine Sea.
Three people are missing. Eight people were rescued at 15:23 LT in good condition, according to 7th Fleet.

Sources:

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1379117/us-navy-aircraft-crashes-in-philippine-sea/platform/hootsuite/
Japan's NHK news agency reports.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20171122/k10011232271000.html?utm_int=news_contents_news-main_001&nnw_opt=news-main_a
https://www.nu.nl/buitenland/5017730/amerikaans-marinevliegtuig-neergestort-in-zee-bij-japan.html
https://news.usni.org/2017/11/22/3-missing-8-rescued-following-c-2a-crash-near-okinawa

Landfill dump truck spotter, Gary Sigmon of Denver, NC, 48, employed by Earnhardt Grading, Inc. of Stanley, NC was hit and killed by a bulldozer

ROCKY MOUNT, NC (AP) -



A worker at a North Carolina landfill site has died after being hit by a bulldozer.

The state Department of Labor says it has opened an investigation into the death of 48-year-old Gary Sigmon of Denver in Lincoln County. The department said Sigmon was employed by Earnhardt Grading of Stanley.

Officials say Sigmon was a spotter for dump trucks at the landfill on U.S. 301 south of Whitakers in Nash County on Monday.

According to officials, Sigmon ran into the path of the bulldozer after he saw a truck dumping in the wrong location and tried to stop it. The officials said the bulldozer operation didn't see the man.

The state says it will take three to four months to complete its investigation into the incident.



Relatives say Sigmon leaves behind two children.



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

Earnhardt Grading ensures the safety and well-being of each employee and their family, by providing a safe and healthful working environment with an emphases on continuously improving through craft engagement. Our safety culture goes above and beyond compliance and focuses on recognizing and motivating our employees to strive for safety excellence.



Our keys to success starts with setting clear expectations during new-hire orientation, developing and training our employees, and recognizing our employees for participating in safety. We encourage employees to provide honest feedback on a day-to-day basis and that is our focus during our safety improvements committee meetings.



The most important asset in Earnhardt Grading is our people and our employee engagement initiatives were developed with that in mind. We have a craft safety supervisor program within the company, where we select high potential craft workers that have a passion for safety and put them through advanced safety training, coach them on best practices, and mentor them once in the field.



Earnhardt Grading wants to see our employees to earn a living, support their families and go home each day injury free.






Donnie Earnhardt ‘Bossman’ founded Earnhardt Grading in 1962. He transitioned from being a custom farmer to grading because there was a lack of rental farm land available. He bought the MotorGrader (pictured) and a D6 to get started. One of his first jobs was in Lincoln County, less than a mile from our current Headquarters.

HISTORY

1962


1970s-
1980s


Earnhardt Grading completes first major project for Duke Energy which involved raising a dam above an impoundment. We were also working heavily in the commercial, industrial, power plant and landfill industries. In 1988 we completed our first lined landfill for a private waste company. It was the first lined landfill to be constructed in NC. We employed around 40 people at the time.


1990s


We continue to focus on a variety of project types and expanded to offer our clients turnkey site work packages. We also started transitioning away from using scrapers and toward articulated trucks to operate more efficiently and cost effectively.


2000s


We’ve always utilized the latest technology to increase our efficiencies and accuracy onsite, and we started adding equipment mounted GPS systems to our equipment in 2004. We also got heavily involved in the power industry, completing 3 large FGD and 2 CTCC projects for Duke Energy.


2017


We are proud to be celebrating our 55th anniversary. Earnhardt Grading continues to look for new markets, clients and niches to support our growth. We employ over 100 people today and serve clients in the Power, Landfill, Coal Ash, commercial, industrial, mining, and additional markets. We are a leader for our quality, value, and our safety performance in our industry. We have been awarded for over 1Million man hours incident free, and are continuously improving our safety culture through employee engagement.

Texas driver who killed Michigan native Alexis Butler, 18, claims that he was looking down as he was breathing into a court-ordered ignition interlock device prior to the deadly collision

Questions after deadly crash blamed on in-car breathalyzer
Driver said he was taking retest at time of crash that killed Michigan native

Heather Walker Published: November 20, 2017, 7:02 pm




GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The death of West Michigan native is raising questions about in-car breathalyzer tests for people convicted of drinking and driving.

Eighteen-year-old Alexis Butler, who went to Battle Creek Lakeview High School, died Friday, a week after a crash in Arlington, Texas. The driver of the pickup truck that struck her car blamed the court-ordered device for the crash. The driver said he was ordered to blow into an ignition interlock device every 15 to 20 minutes while driving to show he had not been drinking. He said that’s why his eyes left the road.

The requirements are similar in Michigan. It may seem dangerous, but a spokesperson for the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office, which regulates the devices, said “the priority is safe operation of vehicle.”

“If they don’t believe that they can do it safely, you should pull off,” spokesman Fred Woodhams continued. Photo: An ignition interlock device.

Woodhams said that in Michigan, drivers are given five minutes to blow into the device. The office feels that is enough time to safely take the test.

“It’s not supposed to be anything that you need to bend down to blow into,” Woodhams said.

He says drivers should be able to keep their eyes on the road.

“But certainly the priority is safety on the road, so if someone believes they cannot blow safety, they should pull over,” he said.

The idea behind the retests is to allow offenders to drive to work, but ensure they don’t start drinking behind the wheel after the initial breath test to start the vehicle.

The Secretary of State’s Office said it was not aware of any complaints about the system or its regulations. However, it is watching and waiting to learn what police determine to be the cause of the crash that killed Alexis Butler.

“We did see that story. At this point, we feel these devices are being used safely,” Woodhams said.

24 Hour reached out to the company that makes the devices in Michigan, Intoxalock.


“We are very saddened to hear about the accident, and more importantly, that a life was lost,” the company said in a statement. “In almost one million customers, we’ve had a handful allege that they caused an accident while engaged in a retest. However, in all of those situations the data pulled from the device provided irrefutable evidence that a retest was not in progress at or near the time of the accident.”







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


Vigil set for MI native killed in TX crash

24 Hour News 8 web staff Published: November 19, 2017, 4:27 pm Updated: November 19, 2017, 6:13 pm


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After a Michigan native died in a car crash in Texas, her friends in Battle Creek are planning a vigil to remember her.

Alexis Butler was 18 years old. Friends told 24 Hour News 8 she went to school at Lakeview High School in Battle Creek before moving to Texas. Butler was a member of the Lakeview dance team and involved in competitive cheerleading in the Lansing area.

Police in Arlington, Texas, say Butler died as a result of her injuries Friday, one week after the crash.

Butler was leaving a friend’s house not far from her home when a pickup hit her as she was backing out. Investigators say the driver of the pickup admitted he was looking down when he crashed. He said he was breathing into a court-ordered ignition interlock device — essentially taking a breathalyzer test that prevents a vehicle from running if the driver has been drinking. It’s unclear why he was using it while driving.

“More importantly for us as a police department is to determine what the manufacturer recommendation is as far as the guidelines in how to operate this type of equipment,” Arlington Police Department Lt. Chris Cook told Dallas-Fort Worth NBC affiliate KXAS. “It’s very concerning to us as a police department that an individual may be operating some type of ignition equipment while they’re in a moving vehicle.”

A memorial candlelight vigil and balloon release for Butler is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at Battle Creek’s Linear Park at the Underground Railroad Sculpture between Capital Avenue NE and Division Street N.





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



Could Michigan do more to stop repeat drunk drivers?
Family wants justice after grandmother of seven killed in alleged drunk driving crash

An undated courtesy photo of Judy Besemer.
Susan Samples, Target 8 investigator Published: March 1, 2017, 9:00 am Updated: March 2, 2017, 8:06 pm






GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Three days before Christmas 2016, Mikelle Besemer opened the door of the apartment she shared with her mother to find her brother and two police officers. They were there to tell her that her mother, 62-year-old Judy Besemer, had been killed in a car crash.

Michigan State Police say James Williams was driving east on Knapp Street NE in northeast Grand Rapids when he ran a red light at the East Beltline and plowed into Besemer’s northbound SUV. Besemer was less than a quarter-mile from home.

She was rushed to the hospital, where she died. She left behind two children and seven grandchildren. Judy Besemer with her son and grandchildren. Front, left to right: JJ, Joey, Gracie, Jaxon and Corbin. Back, left to right: Besemer, her son Justin and Justin's girlfriend Ashley.

Williams, 50, of northeast Kent County, is now charged with driving drunk causing death. Michigan's sentencing guidelines suggest he be sentenced to 19 to 39 months in prison -- though a judge could go above that.

“He has to live with himself,” Mikelle Besemer said. “Well, guess what — at least he gets to live.”

She says something should have been done to keep him off the road. He has two prior drunk driving convictions and he didn't have a license at the time of the crash.

"In some way, in some form, this could have and should have been prevented, especially with his record," she said.

UNDERSHERIFF: LOOPHOLE DIDN'T CAUSE DEADLY CRASH


Williams was convicted of drunk driving in 1989 and again in 1995. It's possible he could have had another one of those convictions on his record if not for a loophole that Target 8 noticed while combing through police reports.

According to a police report on a February 2010 incident, which Target 8 obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, deputies spotted Williams driving up to a gas station and ultimately gave him a breathalyzer test that registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) level more than three times the legal driving limit.

But the sheriff’s department never requested a warrant for Williams’ arrest because the deputy didn't create a new report on the DUI, instead adding it to a report on a domestic incident that occurred earlier in the day between Williams and his then-wife.

"There was a follow-up that happened because he called for service again on the domestic, and we were on our way to his house when we came across him at a local business," Kent County Undersheriff Michelle Young explained.

The deputies reported that they had stopped at a gas station when Williams showed up to buy cigarettes, smelling of alcohol and carrying a vodka-filled coffee mug. According the police report, Williams agreed to a PBT -- a breathalyzer test -- at the gas station and blew a .25, which was later confirmed by a blood test at the hospital.

Deputies had called an ambulance for Williams because he was complaining of chest pains connected to the earlier domestic incident.

Since 2010, the sheriff's office has changed some procedures to close the gap.

"This incident actually happened seven years ago," Young said. "As we started to update our records management systems, we did a very in-depth study of work flow and we found that in circumstances where there were multiple cases that were really handled in conjunction with each other there was potential for gaps. So we ended up putting alerts in our records management system with some cues in place that would prevent that from happening again."

Additionally, officers now file separate reports for each incident instead of lumping them together in one report.

Young doesn’t think charging Williams in 2010 would have prevented the deadly crash in 2016.

"Any consequences for that charge seven years ago would have been already served," she said. "He would have likely been in the exact same time and place that he was at the time this accident happened. Although that’s unfortunate, it would not have been prevented by a charged seven years prior." 

POLICE REPORT: WILLIAMS ROLLED CAR IN EARLY 2016


In addition to the 2010 case, Williams was involved in a potentially alcohol-related driving incident in March 2016, less than a year before the crash that took Judy Besemer’s life.

Williams told police he had rolled his car near Grand River Drive and 5 Mile Road but walked to his home before calling 911. The responding officer said he found Williams at his home and that he had a "strong odor of intoxicants," "slurred" speech and was "not understandable at times." When the officer checked Williams’ crashed vehicle, he reported that it "smelled strongly of alcohol" and there was an "empty aluminum pint" inside it.

But Williams refused a PBT, blamed the crash on multiple deer jumping in front of his car and claimed he hadn't started drinking until after he arrived home.

He was ultimately ticketed for violating a restricted license because he wasn't supposed to drive unless it was to work or substance abuse counseling.

The court file showed that the Kent County prosecutor recommended no jail time, but reserved the right to add an "open intox" charge if Williams took the case to trial.

As for the 1989 and 1995 DUI convictions, records show Williams served about two weeks in jail for the two convictions combined. He also lost his license for a time, but was later allowed to drive to and from work and substance abuse counseling.

At the time of the crash that killed Judy Besemer, Williams' license was both expired and revoked. A timeline showing some of James Williams' driving history.
MADD: WILLIAMS "A TRAGEDY IN THE MAKING"


Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which ranks Michigan’s drunk driving laws 49th in the nation, described Williams as a "tragedy in the making."

The anti-drunk driving advocacy group also told Target 8 that Williams’ history is evidence that the state needs to change its approach.

Doug Scoles, state executive director for MADD’s Ohio office, reviewed Williams’ driving history and the sanctions levied against him at the request of Target 8.

"I must say (Williams’ case) falls clearly into the 'frustration' category at many levels," Scoles wrote in an email to Target 8. "Over the course of 25 plus years, Williams was treated by all appearances with very light sanctioning. … He was given fines, some jail time, offenses were pled down, and no real action to correct and prevent his behavior was ever taken."

MADD is pushing states to adopt a law allowing for "all-offender ignition interlocks," meaning first-time offenders would get interlocks installed on their vehicles. Those devices prevent the car from starting if the driver has too much alcohol on their breath.

MADD uses a five-star rating system to determine which states have the strongest anti-drunk driving laws. Michigan got one star. That ranking is based in part on the state not having all-offender ignition interlock rules in place.

Twenty-eight states have passed such laws, including Ohio, which recently passed "Annie’s Law."


"From the start, if (Williams) had received an ignition interlock on his vehicle, his driving behavior (and sobriety) would have been recorded and documented in real time and would have provided additional tools for the court to see what was 'really going on' with him," Scoles wrote. "It's safe to say conservatively speaking that having an ignition interlock would have gone a long way to prevent his drunk driving behavior."

A five-year study on ignition interlocks, based on data from multiple sobriety courts including that of Grand Rapids' 61st District, produced promising results.

"Based on analysis of data from five years of this project, the ignition interlock program has been generally successful," wrote one of the report’s authors. "It appears that ignition interlocks represent an evidence based method of reducing recidivism (particularly DWI recidivism), among repeat drunk drivers in the state of Michigan."

ALL-OFFENDER INTERLOCK BILL IN MICHIGAN


There is a bill before the Michigan legislature, House Bill 4078, that would allow for all-offender interlocks.

A spokesman for the Michigan’s Secretary of State’s Office told Target 8 the office "doesn’t support" that bill, "but is open to discussing how ignition interlock devices can best be used."

"As drafted the bill would drastically increase the resources needed to effectively oversee the (interlock) program without accommodating for that increased workload. The bill is far from revenue neutral," Fred Woodhams, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State, wrote in an email.

Woodhams also pointed out the use of ignition interlocks has already increased dramatically under current laws. In 2009, Michigan had 3,800 interlocks installed, compared to 10,186 in 2015.

Additionally, Woodhams noted that the Secretary of State’s office successfully lobbied the legislature to set basic standards and regulations for interlock installers and manufacturers.

A spokesperson for Michigan State Police told Target 8 that while the agency has not reviewed House Bill 4078, it is “supportive of the concept generally.”

"The MSP has remained engaged in enforcement of impaired driving both on regular patrol and as part of statewide drunk driving crackdowns that are organized through the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning,” spokesperson Shanon Banner wrote in an email to Target 8. "We share MADD’s goals in reducing impaired driving and we consider ourselves to be partners with them in this effort."

Banner went on to list several laws that Michigan already has in place which are “generally considered effective," including:
Increased penalties for cases involving a high BAC (Michigan's "super drunk" law).
Ignition interlocks are mandatory for high-BAC convictions, as are restricted driving conditions.
Open container laws.
Increased penalties for child endangerment.

HB 4078 was introduced in January and is currently before the House Judiciary Committee. 

JUDGE: WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB


A West Michigan judge has another idea to cut down on drunk driving crashes. He wants lawmakers to increase jail sentences for drunk drivers, even first-time offenders.

"We don’t have any minimum requirements … for a first-time drunk driver," said Mike Schipper, a district court judge in Barry County. "You can get a first-time drunk driving and get absolutely nothing. No probation. No jail. I could give you a minor fine and there could be nothing. That’s not right."

Schipper wants to see the state legislature up the maximum jail time for first-time offenders from the current 93 days to up to one year. He explained that first-time offenders wouldn't actually spend a year in jail, but said judges could use the additional time to monitor offenders' probation and keep tabs on their progress in substance abuse counseling.

The judge compared Michigan’s penalties for a first-time drunk driving offense to those for possession of marijuana.

"I’m not a marijuana fan at all, but if you get caught with marijuana, a teeny bit in your pocket, you could get one year," he said. "But if you drive drunk, which could kill somebody, the most you could get is 93 days. That’s wrong. That needs to be change."

Schipper told Target 8 that the abuse of alcohol is the biggest problem impacting the defendants he sees in his Hastings courtroom.

PLAYING WITH FIRE KILLS TWO: A Colorado Springs, CO. duplex blaze that killed 6-year-old Devyn Charlez Johnson and his great-uncle, Michael Ashley, was started by someone using a match or lighter to set fire to a combustible item.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) —


Fire officials say a duplex blaze that killed a 6-year-old boy and his great-uncle was started by someone using a match or lighter to set fire to a combustible item.

The Gazette reports that the Colorado Springs Fire Department announced the cause of the fire Monday evening. Family members say children in the house previously had set fire to household items, which is what authorities believe happened Nov. 1.

Six-year-old Devyn Charlez Johnson and 40-year-old Michael Ashley died as a result of the fire. A 2-year-old boy was flown to a Denver hospital in critical condition.

The fire department states that the deaths “may have been preventable” if a working smoke alarm had been in the duplex.



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



COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - We now know the identity of the man and child who died in the duplex fire in Colorado Springs on Friday.

Devyn Johnson, 6, and his great-uncle Michael Ashley, 40, were inside the duplex in the 700 block of Cucharras Drive at around 2 p.m. when a fire broke out.



A 2-year-old was also there at the time of the fire, according to Colorado Springs police. He was taken to a hospital in Denver. At last report, he was in critical condition.

Law enforcement stated on November 13 that the preliminary investigation shows that the fire was an accident.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family to help with funeral costs.




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




At least one boy playing with fire sparked a duplex blaze that killed a 6-year-old boy and his great-uncle, the Colorado Springs Fire Department announced Monday evening.

Devyn Johnson, 6, and Michael Ashley, 40, died in the fire at the family’s home at 739 E. Cucharras Street. Devyn died at a local hospital, and his great-uncle died at the home, police said.
via GoFundMeDevyn Johnson

Devyn’s 2-year-old brother, DomNyk C. Johnson, was flown to a Denver hospital in critical condition.

Family members told investigators the boys previously had set fire to household items, a release says. That’s how the Nov. 10 fire started in the duplex’s living room, investigators say: Someone used a match or lighter to set fire to a combustible item.

The deaths “may have been preventable” if a working smoke alarm had been in the duplex, the release says. Three in five residential fire deaths happen in homes without a working smoke alarm.

33-year old construction worker Curtis Duane Hollingshead, 33, from Davison, MI, with Ric-Man Construction Company operating a backhoe has died after he was trapped underneath water when a water main burst in Burton, Michigan

33-year old construction worker Curtis Duane Hollingshead, 33, from Davison, MI, with Ric-Man Construction Company operating a backhoe has died

Police identify man killed in Burton construction accident 

November 22, 2017
By Jessica Royce, Digital producer

BURTON, MI (WNEM) -


Police have identified the man who died after being pulled from a water-filled hole.

Investigators said Curtis Duane Hollingshead, 33, from Davison, died on Nov. 21 after the incident on N. Belsay Road and E. Potter Road.

At 10:48 a.m., Burton police and Burton firefighters were called to the location for reports of a man trapped underwater.

Investigators said it appears a 400-pound, 12-inch water main valve disconnected from the water main, causing the hole Hollingshead was in to rapidly fill with water and trap him.

The Burton Fire Department offered life jackets and a long pole with a hook to the work crew who seemed to know where their coworker could be underwater. Hollingshead was found and pulled up by his belt using the long pole, the fire chief said.

First responders rushed him to the hospital and he died that afternoon, Burton Police Det. Don Schreiber said.

Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright said the company Hollingshead worked for, Ric-Man Construction, is a private contractor doing drain work for the county.

Burton Police report that the water main was not under pressure, but the 42” water line was full of water.

Michigan Laborers' have released a statement on the loss.


“Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and his brothers and sisters on the jobsite. Times like this give us pause and remind us to be thankful of what we have,” said Geno Alessandrini, Business Manager for the Michigan Laborers’ District Council. “Even with top-notch training and education, accidents still happen on the jobsite because construction is a dangerous business. We’ll be doing everything we can to support the family of our union brother during this trying time.”

=======================
BURTON, Mich. (AP) — Police say a 33-year-old Flint-area man was critically injured after being trapped underwater for about 20 minutes when a water main burst during construction work.

Burton Police Chief Tom Osterholzer tells The Flint Journal the man had no pulse when he was taken to a hospital Tuesday morning but medical personnel were able to re-establish a heartbeat.

Osterholzer says other workers were able to snag the submerged man with a pole and pull him from the water.

The worker's name was not immediately released.

Osterholzer says the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent representatives to the scene.



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



UPDATE: Burton Police have confirmed the 33-year-old victim from Davison has died. His family has been notified, but his identity is expected to be released Wednesday.

BURTON, Mich. - A construction worker with Ric-Man Construction Company is fighting for his life after police say he fell into a pit filled with rushing water during a day on the job.

It happened Tuesday morning in Burton at the intersection of North Belsay and East Potter Roads.


Burton Police Chief Tom Osterholzer says it’s always a tragedy when something like this happens.

According to police, the 33 year- old construction worker from Davison was using a backhoe when a water cap blew and knocked him into the hole.


Police say he was pinned down in the hole that was rapidly filling with water.


The man was under water for 20 minutes before he was rescued.

Police believe it was a water main break.

Three water mains actually intersect at that same point.

Right now, they are trying to get this area pumped out investigators can get a better idea of what happened.

Police are not releasing his name at this time.

"This isn't clear water, this is basically brown mud, sludge that he was trapped in the bottom of. The dive team was in route, workers were able to snag him with a pole and retrieve him from the bottom of the hole," said Osterholzer.

The police chief told me to tell people to avoid this area because they are still investigating and it will most likely be closed for quite some time.





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

November 21, 2017

BURTON, Mich. -




A construction worker was taken to an area hospital after a water rescue on the corner of North Belsay and Potter Roads in Burton.

The incident took place around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21.


According to police, a construction worker was using a backhoe when a water cap blew and knocking him into the water.


The roads are closed as officials investigate the incident.

He was rescued from the water after 10 minutes and taken to an area hospital. No word on the condition of the construction worker at this time.


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

Mancini Companies invites you to explore the various fields of business in which it is involved. Ric-Man Construction, Inc. excels in heavy underground and tunnel construction and delivers nothing but quality and expertise. Mancini Enterprises and Mancini Development specialize in industrial, commercial and residential development throughout the states of Michigan and Florida. Overall, Mancini Companies focuses on teamwork and exceptional service among the rest.

Mission Statement – Ric-Man Construction, Inc.
With over 50 years of heavy underground construction experience, Ric-Man Construction, Inc. is committed to improving infrastructure systems throughout the United States by adhering to its tradition of excellence and innovation.  With a focus on safety and its employees, Ric-Man Construction, Inc. has positioned itself as a leader in the industry and a reliable contractor to carry out a project until completion.