Woman Trying to Take Photo Plunges to Death From Cliff in Catskills

Authorities say a 23-year-old woman trying to take a picture by the edge of a cliff in the Catskill Mountains lost her footing and died after falling more than 150 feet.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says the unidentified woman from Dutchess fell from a cliff on top of Kaaterskill Falls at about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Forest rangers were able to recover her body Wednesday morning from the attraction about 40 miles south of Albany.

Tannersville Fire Department Assistant Chief Stephen Toumey told the Daily Freeman of Kingston that the woman was wearing flip flops on an unmarked section of the trail with a male companion.

Toumey said witnesses told rescuers the woman didn't appear to be paying attention while attempting to take a photograph.

Via: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Woman-Taking-Photo-Plunges-Death-Cliff-Catskills-269264301.html

Horder Dies Beneath Her Own Clutter

Published: June 14, 2014 | Last Modified: June 16, 2014 10:24AM

By Mary Ellen Godin and Jeff Gebeau Record-Journal staff

CHESHIRE — A 66-year-old woman who lived alone in her 22 Winslow Road home was found dead Saturday in the basement under a pile of debris after a day-long search.

Police responded to a call for a welfare check on Beverly Mitchell Friday after a postal carrier found mail had piled up at the home for about a week and a half. The investigation is ongoing and being treated as a hazmat situation.

Police determined that there was a structural collapse of the first floor based on the weight of the content of the house.

“The floor gave way and collapsed into the basement. The contents of that room caved in on top of her,” said Sgt. Kevin O’Donnell.

“We did a well being and we determined it wasn’t safe to continue searching and asked for assistance when we saw the first floor collapsed,” O’Donnell said. “We contacted Connecticut Homeland, who brought special equipment for search and rescue.”

The fire department went with special equipment, the state assisted with cadaver dogs and the Connecticut Urban Search and Rescue Unit, Connecticut’s Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protect and state police dogs.

Searchers didn’t find her until Saturday.

They were eventually able to make entry by cutting into the side of the home, O’Donnell said.

Police found stacks of debris piled to the ceiling.

“She was a hoarder,” O’Donnell said. “This was an accidental death caused by disrepair.”

No next of kin were identified. The state medical examiner will release the body to a funeral home.

Police and social service agencies had tried for years to help Mitchell, O’Donnell said.

She had a long history of reclusive behavior, and didn’t want contact with the outside world other than a rare trip to the store or senior services. The house has been boarded up.

“She was a recluse,” he said. “We weren’t sure she was in the building. She has a history of leaving and not telling anyone.”

Crash Kills 2 - Husband and Wife in Separate Cars

A husband and wife were killed in a head on crash Wednesday in an incident where each was the driver of one of the vehicles. It happened about 10 a.m. on County Road 87 near the small community of Odell in northern Wilbarger County. Department of Public Safety Trooper Jymie Ha identified the dead as 31-year-old Nicolas Cruz and 26-year-old Kristina Munoz.

Cruz was the driver of a 1990 Mazda headed south on the county road and Munoz was the driver of a 1999 Saturn headed north when the two vehicles collided.

The wreck occurred near the Marhard Pullet Farm where the couple were employed. The site is about 3.5 miles west of the Odell Community and about 18 miles northwest of Vernon.

Emergency crews used special equipment to extricate the victims from the wreckage. Both Cruz and Munoz were pronounced dead at the scene by Wilbarger County Justice of the Peace Gene Morton. They were both alone in their vehicles.

Trooper Ha said he didn’t believe either was wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred. He said the cause is still under investigation. He said speed may have been a factor and witnesses reported seeing no skid marks on the pavement.

Via: http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2014/jun/04/odell_fatalities/

Livery Cab Driver Killed By His Own Car

A livery cab driver was killed in Midtown this morning after accidentally hitting the wrong pedal on his Ford Expedition.

According to police, the tragic accident went down around 11:18 a.m. on Madison Avenue near East 49th Street, when the 58-year-old driver double parked his car to open the door for a pair of passengers. As he did, he noticed the car was drifting in reverse, and opened the driver's side door in order to lean in and hit the break. Instead, he hit the gas, sending the vehicle forward and crushing him between his own car and a parked Ford Econoline. The driver was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Expedition continued its journey down the street, until a quick-thinking onlooker intervened.

“After a few whistles I took it upon myself to jump into the vehicle to secure it,” witness Mike Conlon told DNAinfo. "It seemed like the thing to do."

Man Dies After Botched Stage Dive

A man reportedly died at Webster Hall Saturday night following a botched stage dive.Brooklyn Vegan reports that 21-year-old Albert Scott suffered head trauma after attempting a stage dive during a performance by the metalcore band Miss May I. The group wrote on its Facebook page that members are "aware of the incident that occurred at Webster Hall last night and will be posting a statement shortly. However, we are awaiting further information regarding the situation before we are able to make a full statement."

A commenter noted that "a kid stage dove and nobody caught him. He suffered a serious blow to the head and paramedics & doctors weren't able to save him. Club and show venues need to really enforce the "No stage Diving" rule so stuff like this won't happen. The stage is meant for the band to be on and the band only. R.I.P Alberto."

Webster Hall has not responded to a request for comment. The venue tweeted yesterday that its scheduled BASSMent Saturdays show, typically held at The Studio—the same stage at which the incident occurred—had been cancelled, though it offered no reason as to why.

It did, however, declare that "Grand ballroom is open, guys!"

The FDNY transported a man in his 20s from Webster Hall to to Beth Israel on Saturday just before 10 p.m. The victim went into cardiac arrest, though a spokesperson could not confirm whether it was Scott. The NYPD had no information about the death.

Graduate Student Killed After Mistaking Home For His Own

A graduate student was shot to death when he accidentally tried to enter the wrong apartment after a night of drinking.

Stephen Guillermo, 26, apparently pushed the wrong floor number on the elevator in his San Francisco apartment building early on Saturday morning, getting out on the third floor instead of the fifth, his family told SFGate.

When Guillermo went into the unit in the same location as his two floors above, he was allegedly shot and killed by its owner, 68-year-old Amisi Sudi Kachepa.

Kachepa, who surrendered to police, reportedly told investigators that he blamed Guillermo for breaking the knob on the door of his unit, which was missing on Saturday.

But Guillermo’s brother Marc, who also shared the fifth-floor apartment, said he couldn’t understand what happened.

“He’s not aggressive or violent,” Marc Guillermo said. “He’s a quiet person.”

He said Stephen was studying international business at San Francisco State University, and worked as a driver and shoe salesman. He also hoped to join the Foreign Service.

Stephen’s sister, Sharrmaine Guillermo, said her brother did not become hostile when he drank.

“It just doesn’t fit,” she said. “Stephen is not the kind of guy who would do that.”

Police said Guillermo was pronounced dead at the scene.

The homicide squad is investigating.

This article originally appeared on News.com.au.

Man Found Dead Inside Industrial Fortune Cookie Maker

HOUSTON – An investigation is underway in the apparent accidental death of a man found inside an industrial dough mixer at a midtown business, Houston police said.

The 26-year-old victim was an employee of the Wonton Food Corporation located at 2902 Caroline Street.

Police said a fellow employee found the man deceased in the machine at about 12:10 p.m. on Sunday. The victim had been operating the machine.

His identity has not been released.

Investigators said no foul play is suspected in the case and an autopsy will be performed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.  

Via: http://www.khou.com/news/local/HPD-Man-found-dead-inside-dough-mixer-at-Midtown-business----257017081.html