This blog presents Metropolitan Engineering Consulting & Forensics (MEC&F) claim management and claim investigation analyses of some of the typical claims we handle
The driver of a funeral home van was doing his job transporting a body when he was killed in a crash.
Richard Charest of Winthrop was 59 years old. He worked for the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home in Winthrop.
Charest was bringing a body back to the funeral home in a Ford Flex minivan on Monday night by way of Route 202 in Greene. Maine State Police said a Hummer driven by 58-year-old Donald Asselin of Sabattus struck the van from behind on 202 as it crested a hill near the intersection of Daggett Hill Road.
The van careened several hundred feet off the road, down an embankment and hit a stand of trees. Troopers said Charest died at the scene. Both he and the body he was transporting remained in the van until responders removed them. Troopers said Asselin sustained minor injuries and did not need immediate medical attention.
A detour around the crash lasted about three hours. Investigators planned to return the next day to gather further information. Witnesses to the crash can share their observations with police by calling (207) 657-3030.
LOWVILLE, N.Y. — New York State Police are investigating a fatal agricultural/industrial accident that happened over the weekend in Lewis County.
An investigation found that Ryan C. Ouellette, 32, of Lowville, was tending to a large integrity manure separator around 8 a.m. Sunday at the Marks Dairy Farm in Lowville when his head became trapped by a roller inside the machine, according to police. It is currently unknown how his head became caught.
Oullette was later found about 20 to 30 minutes later by a co-worker, police said.
Lewis County Search and Rescue transported Oullette from the scene to Lewis County General Hospital and was later transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
An investigation of the incident is ongoing.
Marks Farms is a large family-owned dairy farm nestled in the beautiful upstate New York town of Lowville.
LOWVILLE, NY- Ryan C. Ouellette, 32, of State Route 26, Lowville, died Sunday, November 19, 2017, at Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse.
The funeral will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 24, 2017 at Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., 5702 Waters Road, Lowville with The Dr. Leon Runner, Pastor of Lowville Baptist Church, officiating. A calling hour will be from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. prior to the funeral service, at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to Lewis County Search & Rescue, 7782 West State Street, Lowville, NY 13367.
Surviving are four children, Zoe, Mason, Ellie and Karlie Ouellette; his mother and her companion, Jill Hirschy and Scot Ielfield of Lowville; his father, Larry Ouellette of Hot Springs, Arkansas; maternal grandmother, Judy Hirschy of Lowville; his siblings, Heather Merry and her husband Matt of Watson, Travis Ouellette of Lowville, Rebecca Ouellette of Rome, Georgia; his step-brothers, Mike, Steve and Todd Ielfield; several aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Junior Hirschy, and paternal grandparents, Leo and Rose Ouellette.
Ryan was born on February 22, 1985 in Watertown, NY, a son of Larry and Jill Hirschy Ouellette. He attended Lowville Academy and worked on area farms. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and camping. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his children.
Condolences may be made online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com. =================
Marks Farms worker dies from injuries suffered in farm accident
PUBLISHED: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2017 AT 5:15 AM
MARTINSBURG, NY — A worker at Lewis County’s largest dairy died from injuries suffered in a farm accident Sunday morning.
State police said Ryan C. Ouelette, 32, Lowville, was tending to a large integrity manure separator at Marks Farms, 6314 Cannan Road, when, for an unknown reason, his head became trapped by the roller inside the machine.
He was found trapped in the machine 20 to 30 minutes later by a co-worker and was eventually freed from the equipment, police said.
Mr. Ouelette was taken to Lewis County General Hospital, Lowville, then transferred to Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
An investigation is continuing, police said.
An employee at the town of Martinsburg dairy said farm officials could not comment because of the ongoing investigation.
The helicopter that crashed and burned killing Gideon William Carmichael, 25, of Haskell, Texas
The helicopter that crashed and burned killing Gideon William Carmichael, 25, of Haskell, Texas
Gideon William Carmichael, 25, of Haskell, Texas, dead hunting pigs
UPDATE: Officials release name of helicopter pilot
Tuesday, November 21st 2017, 1:10 am EST By Samantha Forester, Digital Reporter
DPS, Wichita County Sheriff's Office and Electra Police are on the scene of a helicopter crash in Electra. (Source: KAUZ) DPS, Wichita County Sheriff's Office and Electra Police are on the scene of a helicopter crash in Electra. (Source: KAUZ) DPS, Wichita County Sheriff's Office and Electra Police are on the scene of a helicopter crash in Electra. (Source: KAUZ) DPS, Wichita County Sheriff's Office and Electra Police are on the scene of a helicopter crash in Electra. (Source: KAUZ) ELECTRA, TX (KAUZ) -
DPS Trooper Dan Buesing confirmed to Newschannel 6 the pilot, who died, following a helicopter crash in Electra as Gideon William Carmichael, 25, of Haskell.
Carmichael was the only person in the Robinson R22 Beta helicopter. The aircraft went down around 3:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon at Business 287 and Jennings Road.
DPS Troopers said Gideon Carmichael worked for Carmichael Helicopter Service out of Haskell.
On his Facebook page, it says he was the owner of the business that does everything from cattle work, predator control, game surveys and even aerial video and photography. Other media outlets are reporting that Gideon helped Hurricane Harvey victims.
Trooper Buesing said Carmichael was working when the crash happened.
“Kind of regular ranch-type operations,” said Buesing. “A lot of time in these areas where there's some rough terrains pretty normal thing for helicopters to be involved in helping out with some of the livestock.”
Trooper Buesing said Carmichael was herding cattle before his helicopter hit some power lines, causing him to crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement said a witness told them once the helicopter hit the ground, a fire sparked.
“There was about a three-acre grass fire burning," said Wichita County Sheriff David Duke. "When we got to the scene, a helicopter was below the power lines."
Oncor was on the scene for most of the night due to the two power lines that were knocked down.Carmichael's body has been sent to the Dallas/Fort Worth area for an autopsy.
============================
ELECTRA, TEXAS - DPS officials have released the name of the victim in the helicopter crash, Gideon William Carmichael of Carmichael Helicopters out of Haskell.
For three witnesses, Monday afternoon started just like any other for them, until they witnessed a car crash.
Devin Howell was one of the witnesses, he told us, "We were just in there hunting and we were sitting at camp and wondering why this guy was, what he was doing and he was running cattle and I guess trying to get them to their pin and just got sideways and went into the power line."
He said he was just doing his job and often took flight over the Electra area.
Texas Department of Public Safety, Sgt. Dan Buesing said, "He was working here for a local person working some cattle, regular ranch type operations. A lot of times, in these areas where there some rough terrain, a helicopter is a pretty normal thing for helicopters to be involved in helping out some of the livestock."
Witnesses, Twyla and Bailey Tarter continued to say, "When he was moving the cattle, I mean it's windy right now anyway and I guess he wasn't paying attention or something and his back tail-spun into the wire and he got caught and went nose down. He tried to get it to where he could untangle himself but he made another wrong move and then it just tipped over."
They added that it all happened so quickly.
Wichita County Sheriff, David Duke said, "Its unfortunate for the family. Our hearts go out to them. It was, from what I understand a younger male pilot so it's sad to see something like this happen."
Witnesses also told us that if they were not there at the time of the accident, no one would've found Carmicheal.
Sgt. Dan Buesing said the area around Jennings road will be closed until the Federal Aviation Administration is able to do a full investigation, they are coming from the Dallas/ Fort Worth area and it may be tomorrow morning before they can get started.
According to his website, Carmichael had been flying since he was 18-year-old.
As the sole owner and operator of Carmichael Helicopter Service, he had been in business as a commercial helicopter pilot for seven years.
His company did business in cattle work, game surveying and depredation.
Carmichael was in a Robinson R22 Beta II, which seats two, including a pilot. He was the only one in the copter when it crashed.
He was raised his entire life on a working cattle ranch, where he still continued to help farm and ranch when he wasn't flying and he was also an avid hunter since childhood.
=========================
Date: 20-NOV-2017 Time: 15:00 Type: Robinson R22 Beta Owner/operator: Private Registration: N4179M C/n / msn: 4413 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Wichita County, Electra, TX - United States of America Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) Nature: Agricultural Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Narrative: The aircraft clipped powerlines and impacted open field terrain during an aerial livestock mustering flight in Wichita County, southeast Electra, Texas. The helicopter was partially consumed by the post-impact fire and the sole pilot onboard was fatally injured.
One pilot dead, another hospitalized after Laughlin Air Force Base jet crash
One pilot died and the other was taken to
Val Verde Regional Medical Center after their military aircraft crashed
near Del Rio on Monday afternoon.
The T-38 Talon crashed about 4 p.m. about 14 miles northwest of the base, near Lake Amistad, the base stated in a news release.
The names of the pilots are being withheld until next of kin are notified.
"Our
biggest priority at this time is caring for the family and friends of
our Airmen," said Col. Michelle Pryor, 47th Flying Training Wing vice
commander. "We are a close knit family, and when a tragedy like this
occurs every member of the U.S. Armed Forces feels it. Our people take
top priority, and we are committed to ensuring their safety and
security."
A board of officers will convene to investigate the incident, the release stated.
=====================
Military.com|21 Nov 2017|by Oriana Pawlyk
A U.S. Air Force trainer jet crashed in Texas late Monday afternoon, killing one pilot and injuring another, the service said.
The T-38 Talon, assigned to Laughlin Air Force Base, crashed at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time roughly 15 miles northwest of the base in Del Rio, Texas, the base said in a release Monday.
One pilot is dead and one was transferred to Val Verde Regional
Medical Center, according to a separate statement released later in the
evening. The names of the airmen weren't released.
"Our biggest priority at this time is caring for the family and
friends of our Airmen," Col. Michelle Pryor, 47th Flying Training Wing
vice commander, said in the statement.
"We are a close knit family, and when a tragedy like this occurs
every member of the U.S. Armed Forces feels it," she added. "Our people
take top priority, and we are committed to ensuring their safety and
security."
Witnesses reported seeing a parachute and pilot descending to the ground. Laughlin emergency response personnel and local responders were on scene to assist in recovery efforts.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
The twin-engine, high-altitude T-38 trains pilots preparing to fly in fighter and attack aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt and F-22 Raptor, as well as the B-1B Lancer.
The service plans to replace the Northrop Grumman Corp.-made, two-seater T-38 over the next few years, with hopes of buying 350 new aircraft at a time when the service needs to replenish its fighter pilot ranks.
In December, the service launched
a potential $16 billion competition to build a replacement T-38, which
entered service in 1961. Firms publicly competing for the contract --
known as the T-X program -- include Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp.
and Leonardo S.p.A.
Narrative: The
military training aircraft impacted the terrain in Val Verde County,
north-northwest of Del Rio, Texas. The airplane was partially consumed
by the post-impact fire and one of the two pilots onboard was fatally
injured. One of the pilots onboard the aircraft ejected, receiving
undetermined injuries.
The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine,
high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because
of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high
performance and exceptional safety record.
The T-38 has swept wings, a streamlined fuselage and tricycle landing
gear with a steerable nose wheel. Two independent hydraulic systems
power the ailerons, rudder and other flight control surfaces. Critical
aircraft components are waist high and can be easily reached by
maintenance crews.
The T-38C incorporates a "glass cockpit" with integrated avionics
displays, head-up display and an electronic "no drop bomb" scoring
system. The AT-38B has a gun sight and practice bomb dispenser.
Air Education and Training Command uses the T-38C to prepare pilots
for front-line fighter and bomber aircraft such as the F-15E Strike
Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10 Thunderbolt
and F-22 Raptor.
On #Thanksgiving day and every day, a working smoke/CO alarm gives you and your loved ones an early warning signal that something is wrong
Make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen when preparing
this year's Thanksgiving feast because it's better to be safe than
sorry.
An estimated 2,100 residential building fires were reported to fire
departments in the United States on Thanksgiving Day for each year from
2011 to 2013, and caused an estimated 10 deaths, 50 injuries and $28
million in property loss, according to the U.S. Fire Administration and data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System.
As Americans prepare their Thanksgiving feasts this holiday week,
fire prevention experts across the country are busy preparing for the riskiest day of the year.
Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires in America, according to the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA). In 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,760
home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, roughly 3 times the daily average.
The NFPA also says unattended cooking was by far the leading
contributing factor in cooking fires and cooking deaths. One popular but
dangerous cooking method can cause serious injury and major property
damage if done incorrectly: turkey frying.
Thanksgiving is the most dangerous time of year for kitchen fires, and deep-fried turkeys actually aren't the top risk.
This year, QBE North America has released a list of turkey fryer safety tips in preparation for the holiday season.
“Cooking continues to be one of the top ways that home fires are
started,” said Mark McCormick, Vice President, Personal Risk Services
for QBE North America. “By sharing our expertise, QBE hopes to help more
people have a safe and healthy holiday.”
Here are 16 turkey fryer safety tips to keep in mind this holiday season:
Oil dangers
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfilling. Oil can
ignite when it makes contact with the burner. Remember the turkey will
cause displacement so what may seem like a small amount of oil without
the turkey will probably end up being the correct amount of oil.
Purchase a fryer with temperature controls, and watch the oil
temperature carefully. Cooking oil that's heated beyond its smoke point
can catch fire. If you notice the oil is starting to smoke, turn the
fryer off immediately.
Do not dispose of oil down the sink drain.
Setting up your fryer
Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages, and a safe distance
away from trees and other flammable (even non-flammable) structures.
Make sure the turkey is thawed and completely dry before cooking.
Any ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause major flare-ups.
Be mindful of the weather. Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain or snow.
Always have the fryer on a level surface. Avoid moving the fryer once it is in use and wait for it to cool before moving it.
Leave 2 feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer.
Using the fryer
Never leave the fryer unattended while heating, in use, or cooling down.
Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.
Wear the proper safety equipment: goggles to shield your eyes and oven mitts to protect your hands and arms.
Keep a grease-rated fire extinguisher close by for emergencies.
Don't stuff the turkey before frying, and avoid water-based marinades to reduce the chance of flare-ups.
If you have a flare-up, don't use a garden hose to put out the fire. Use your grease-rated fire extinguisher.
Other tips
Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times.
Once the frying has finished, carefully remove the pot from the
burner, place it on a level surface, and cover it to let the oil cool
overnight before you dispose of it.
=====================
FDNY shares tips for Thanksgiving fire safety
Updated November 20, 2017
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- FDNY released a list of do's and don'ts as part of its FDNY Smart program to ensure a safe and secure Thanksgiving dinner.
The FDNY urges those who are cooking this holiday to enforce a kid-free zone around the stove, and to keep the stove area clear of any towels, papers or anything else that could potentially burn.
In addition, the FDNY reminds that a clean cooking area is essential for cooking safety and that clean cooking equipment will lessen the risk of possible fire.
Fire departments in the U.S. respond to approximately 166,000 fires due to cooking equipment yearly, according to the National Fire Protection Association. On average, these fires result in 480 civilian deaths, with Thanksgiving featuring a 230-percent increase in the rate of average fires per day, heightening the importance of caution during the holiday.
According to the 2013-2014 report, 49 percent of the aforementioned civilian deaths are caused by leaving food unattended, a major point on the FDNY Smart notice.
"Don't leave cooking food unattended," the notice reads.
However, if a pan fire does occur, FDNY urges individuals to not use water to put out a blaze, as water can cause splashing and spread the fire. And, if a burning injury does occur, utilizing cold water is essential to reducing harm; however, calling 911 is the most effective method to receiving proper medical treatment.
