Distracted walking can be as hazardous as distracted driving, the public was reminded after the deeply unfortunate Christmas Day death of a man in San Diego. Lifeguards say the man was walking and looking at a device in the Sunset Cliffs area at sunset around 4:50 p.m. Friday when he dropped 60 feet to his death, the New York Daily News reports.
"Witnesses stated seeing someone distracted by an electronic device and he just fell over the edge," lifeguard Bill Bender tells NBC San Diego. He "wasn't watching where he was walking, he was looking down at the device in his hands."
The man apparently drove to the area with a passenger to watch the sunset. KABC reports he struggled to find parking and exited the vehicle in search of a spot; that's when witnesses say he was looking at a device and plummeted.
Bender says that after the man fell, three witnesses "put themselves at jeopardy" by making their way down the rocks to administer CPR to the man, who was in his 30s, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. NBC San Diego cites lifeguard speculation that the device was a phone or camera, but says no such device has been recovered yet.
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/man-distracted-electronic-device-falls-cliff-dies-article-1.2477250
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Man Dies After Getting Sucked Into Plane Engine
NEW DELHI — Airport and airline authorities in India on Thursday began investigating the death of a technician who was sucked into an aircraft engine at an airport in Mumbai.Air India chief Ashwani Lohani said the accident happened Wednesday evening when the plane was being moved from an airport gate. A pilot misinterpreted a signal and switched on the plane’s engine.
Lohani said the aircraft was being pushed back from the gate when the accident happened.
The maintenance engineer was working on equipment used to push back the aircraft when he was sucked into the engine and killed instantly, Lohani said.
The plane was full of passengers for a flight from Mumbai to the southeastern city of Hyderabad.
The accident was under investigation, Lohani said.
Via: http://nypost.com/2015/12/17/indian-man-dies-after-being-sucked-into-aircraft-engine/
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Florida Alligator Eats Burgler
A 22-year-old man reportedly out to burglarize a few homes in Brevard County found out the hard way that crime doesn’t pay.
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, a burglary suspect they were actively looking for on Nov. 13 realized deputies were hot on his trail and chose to hide near Barefoot Bay lake. That decision proved fatal.
While hiding near the water, it seems the burglary suspect, identified as Matthew Riggins, ran afoul of an 11-foot alligator. Seeing easy prey, the gator attacked.
Riggins, the sheriff’s office said, drowned as a result of that attack. His body, however, wasn’t found until 10 days after the initial burglary call came in.
The incident that led up to Riggins’ death began to unfold in the late evening hours of Nov. 12. Riggins, the sheriff’s office wrote in a media release, told his girlfriend he and another man planned to go to Barefoot Bay that night to “commit burglaries.”
It was around 2 a.m. Nov. 13 when the sheriff’s office was called out to investigate two suspicious men in that area. The men, deputies were told, were dressed in all black and were seen walking behind homes in the area.
Deputies caught up with the two men on Royal Palm Boulevard, but the suspects fled. While K9 and aviation units were called out, deputies did not catch their suspects that evening.
“It was later learned that Riggins had contacted his girlfriend during the timeframe of the search, advising that they were being chased by deputies,” the media release stated. “Riggins was reported as a missing person to the Palm Bay Police Department later that day when he did not return home.”
Riggins remained missing until Nov. 23 when his body was spotted in the lake. The sheriff’s dive team was called in for the retrieval. Its members also spotted that 11-foot gator and noted it was a rather aggressive one.
Because of the gator’s aggressive behavior and the trauma observed on Riggins’ body, deputies called a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trapper for help. The gator was ultimately captured and euthanized, the agency said.
A forensic examination of the critter revealed it was indeed the one involved in Riggins’ death, the agency noted. Riggins’ official cause of death was listed as drowning as a result of the alligator attack.
Deputies say they’ve identified the man with Riggins that evening, but he hasn’t cooperated with their investigation so far.
Riggins’ death is the second alligator-related human fatality in Florida in 2015. In October, a man was killed while swimming in the waters of Blue Spring State Park.
Despite the state’s bustling alligator population, fatal attacks are not common in Florida. Between 1948 and 2013, there were 22 fatalities recorded, according to FWC records. During that period, a total of 122 minor bites and 235 major bites were also logged. The last fatal alligator attack on record prior to this year occurred in 2007.
Alligator-related human fatalities might not be common, but encounters with the creatures are. Those encounters add up to so many over the course of any given year that the state has set up its own hotline to accept nuisance alligator calls. That number is 1-866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
In 2013 alone, the state fielded 15,036 nuisance alligator calls, which resulted in the removal of 6,605 creatures.
Via: http://patch.com/florida/sarasota/11-foot-gator-eats-burglar-0
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, a burglary suspect they were actively looking for on Nov. 13 realized deputies were hot on his trail and chose to hide near Barefoot Bay lake. That decision proved fatal.
While hiding near the water, it seems the burglary suspect, identified as Matthew Riggins, ran afoul of an 11-foot alligator. Seeing easy prey, the gator attacked.
Riggins, the sheriff’s office said, drowned as a result of that attack. His body, however, wasn’t found until 10 days after the initial burglary call came in.
The incident that led up to Riggins’ death began to unfold in the late evening hours of Nov. 12. Riggins, the sheriff’s office wrote in a media release, told his girlfriend he and another man planned to go to Barefoot Bay that night to “commit burglaries.”
It was around 2 a.m. Nov. 13 when the sheriff’s office was called out to investigate two suspicious men in that area. The men, deputies were told, were dressed in all black and were seen walking behind homes in the area.
Deputies caught up with the two men on Royal Palm Boulevard, but the suspects fled. While K9 and aviation units were called out, deputies did not catch their suspects that evening.
“It was later learned that Riggins had contacted his girlfriend during the timeframe of the search, advising that they were being chased by deputies,” the media release stated. “Riggins was reported as a missing person to the Palm Bay Police Department later that day when he did not return home.”
Riggins remained missing until Nov. 23 when his body was spotted in the lake. The sheriff’s dive team was called in for the retrieval. Its members also spotted that 11-foot gator and noted it was a rather aggressive one.
Because of the gator’s aggressive behavior and the trauma observed on Riggins’ body, deputies called a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trapper for help. The gator was ultimately captured and euthanized, the agency said.
A forensic examination of the critter revealed it was indeed the one involved in Riggins’ death, the agency noted. Riggins’ official cause of death was listed as drowning as a result of the alligator attack.
Deputies say they’ve identified the man with Riggins that evening, but he hasn’t cooperated with their investigation so far.
Riggins’ death is the second alligator-related human fatality in Florida in 2015. In October, a man was killed while swimming in the waters of Blue Spring State Park.
Despite the state’s bustling alligator population, fatal attacks are not common in Florida. Between 1948 and 2013, there were 22 fatalities recorded, according to FWC records. During that period, a total of 122 minor bites and 235 major bites were also logged. The last fatal alligator attack on record prior to this year occurred in 2007.
Alligator-related human fatalities might not be common, but encounters with the creatures are. Those encounters add up to so many over the course of any given year that the state has set up its own hotline to accept nuisance alligator calls. That number is 1-866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
In 2013 alone, the state fielded 15,036 nuisance alligator calls, which resulted in the removal of 6,605 creatures.
Via: http://patch.com/florida/sarasota/11-foot-gator-eats-burglar-0
Friday, December 4, 2015
Woman Who Survived Car Crash Killed Going Back To Her Car
A 25-year-old Long Island woman survived a car crash early this morning, but was fatally struck by a driver when she went back to her car to get her belongings.
Police say the incident happened just before 4 a.m. Sunday when Brittany Leith, a mother of a 3-year-old girl, struck the center median on the Southern State Parkway at Exit 36. Her car flipped over, but she was able to climb out via a cracked window with help from passersby, and made it safely to the shoulder of the road.
However, she then apparently returned to her vehicle before cops arrived "despite warnings from the motorists who had assisted her," according to Newsday. While she was gathering her things, she was struck and killed by another passing driver.
The grandmother said Brittany and Zoey had been living with her since the young mom got divorced. Brittany was on her way home from a friend’s home when she was killed, the grandmother said.
Anna Leith says she thinks the people who were on the scene with Brittany should have done more to keep her from running back into traffic.
“I was told someone was there to help her out of the car, but she could have hit her head and been out of it,” the grandmother said. “Somebody should have held on to her and not let her run back into the street.
“This should not have happened,” she added.
The parkway was shut down for more than seven hours as police investigated both accidents. They finally reopened the roadway around 11:30 a.m.
Via: http://nypost.com/2015/11/29/woman-survives-car-crash-dies-trying-to-retrieve-her-things/
Police say the incident happened just before 4 a.m. Sunday when Brittany Leith, a mother of a 3-year-old girl, struck the center median on the Southern State Parkway at Exit 36. Her car flipped over, but she was able to climb out via a cracked window with help from passersby, and made it safely to the shoulder of the road.
However, she then apparently returned to her vehicle before cops arrived "despite warnings from the motorists who had assisted her," according to Newsday. While she was gathering her things, she was struck and killed by another passing driver.
The grandmother said Brittany and Zoey had been living with her since the young mom got divorced. Brittany was on her way home from a friend’s home when she was killed, the grandmother said.
Anna Leith says she thinks the people who were on the scene with Brittany should have done more to keep her from running back into traffic.
“I was told someone was there to help her out of the car, but she could have hit her head and been out of it,” the grandmother said. “Somebody should have held on to her and not let her run back into the street.
“This should not have happened,” she added.
The parkway was shut down for more than seven hours as police investigated both accidents. They finally reopened the roadway around 11:30 a.m.
Via: http://nypost.com/2015/11/29/woman-survives-car-crash-dies-trying-to-retrieve-her-things/
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Stranger pays woman’s grocery bill, dies in car crash hours later
A San Diego-area woman is working to honor the memory of a stranger who died hours after he paid for her groceries and asked her to “pay it forward.”
Matthew Jackson, of Oceanside, was killed in a crash on Nov. 11, less than 24 hours after he met Jamie-Lynne Knighten, KNSD-TV in San Diego reported.
Knighten was ahead of Jackson in line to pay for her groceries with her crying infant when her card was declined.
That’s when Jackson stepped up and offered to foot the bill, which came to more than $200.
The 28-year-old wanted one thing in return.
“As long as you promise to do it for somebody else,” Jackson said, according to Knighten.
Knighten later called his employer, a local gym, to praise Jackson — only to find out he had died when a car he was in struck a tree.
As a person of faith, Knighten said she believes Jackson didn’t die in vain. She said she is working to further honor the man’s legacy and is encouraging others to pay it forward.
Via: http://nypost.com/2015/12/01/stranger-pays-womans-grocery-bill-dies-in-car-crash-hours-later/
Matthew Jackson, of Oceanside, was killed in a crash on Nov. 11, less than 24 hours after he met Jamie-Lynne Knighten, KNSD-TV in San Diego reported.
Knighten was ahead of Jackson in line to pay for her groceries with her crying infant when her card was declined.
That’s when Jackson stepped up and offered to foot the bill, which came to more than $200.
The 28-year-old wanted one thing in return.
“As long as you promise to do it for somebody else,” Jackson said, according to Knighten.
Knighten later called his employer, a local gym, to praise Jackson — only to find out he had died when a car he was in struck a tree.
As a person of faith, Knighten said she believes Jackson didn’t die in vain. She said she is working to further honor the man’s legacy and is encouraging others to pay it forward.
Via: http://nypost.com/2015/12/01/stranger-pays-womans-grocery-bill-dies-in-car-crash-hours-later/
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Couple Dies After Having Sex At Their Child's Wedding
A Canadian couple who traveled to Mexico for their daughter’s wedding were found dead after the man suffered a heart attack and squashed his wife when they had sex in a resort hot tub.Charles Mackenzie, 67, was in a whirlpool spa with his wife, Dorothy, 63, when the tragedy struck, the Canadian Press reported.
The couple traveled from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Playacar Palace hotel, a beachside resort in Playa del Carmen, for their daughter’s wedding, which was planned just days after the couple were found dead.
“I know that they’re more concerned about the remains and cremation and things like that,” said Charles Mckenzie’s brother-in-law, Douglas Hastings. “I don’t really know about the wedding.”
Authorities said the deaths are accidental and likely linked.
The man’s heart attack likely caused the woman to drown, an official from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo told the Canadian Press.
A spokesperson for the resort denied reports that the couple had been electrocuted by the hot tub.
“The room was perfectly fine. All the equipment was working perfectly,” David Rubeo told the Canadian Press. “What the family mentioned was a heart attack.”
Modal Trigger
Photo: All Inclusive Resort Videos
Rubeo said the couple’s family was still staying at the hotel.
“We are treating them as our own family,” he said, noting that staff were helping the Canadians deal with local authorities. “All the group is very calm, in the best way they can be.”
Via: http://nypost.com/2015/11/12/bathtub-sex-ends-in-death-after-man-has-heart-attack-smothers-wife/
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Man Beats Friend To Death To Prevent Him Becoming Zombie
A Prewitt, NM man was arrested Thursday afternoon after allegedly beating his friend to death while they were drunk after the man said his friend began "to change into a zombie," according to the Grants Police Department.
The man, identified as 23-year-old Damon Perry, told police he had been binge-watching "The Walking Dead" on Netflix recently.
Grants police originally responded to a Grants apartment complex after 911 callers said a man – later identified as Perry – was running around the complex threatening people with a knife.
When officers arrived, two maintenance workers were holding Perry down. Inside a nearby apartment, an officer found the friend unresponsive with signs of trauma. The friend was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified the victim Monday as Christopher Paquinn.
Perry was taken to police headquarters and interviewed. There, he told detectives that while the two were drinking, Paquinn began "to change into a zombie" and tried to bite him, according to police.
He allegedly then punched and kicked Paquinn, and also hit the friend with an electric guitar and microwave, among other household items, according to police.
Lead detective Sgt. Moses Marquez is working the case, and says there was one more gruesome detail to the murder.
"If you've ever watched the show, you'd know that the only way to kill a zombie is to attack it in its head," Sgt. Marquez said. "Well, when police arrived in this complex, there was a knife inside the victim's head."
"I do believe his story behind this is true. He genuinely felt that his friend was changing into a zombie due to his inebriated state," Sgt. Marquez continued. "Our department is dealing with something that I have never seen or heard of in my entire 13 years here."
Perry has been charged with an open count of murder and is being held at the Cibola County Detention Center.
23-year-old Damon Perry, told police he had been binge-watching "The Walking Dead" on Netflix recently after beating and stabbing his friend to death.
Via: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3944679.shtml#.Vi-M-n72CUn
The man, identified as 23-year-old Damon Perry, told police he had been binge-watching "The Walking Dead" on Netflix recently.
Grants police originally responded to a Grants apartment complex after 911 callers said a man – later identified as Perry – was running around the complex threatening people with a knife.
When officers arrived, two maintenance workers were holding Perry down. Inside a nearby apartment, an officer found the friend unresponsive with signs of trauma. The friend was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified the victim Monday as Christopher Paquinn.
Perry was taken to police headquarters and interviewed. There, he told detectives that while the two were drinking, Paquinn began "to change into a zombie" and tried to bite him, according to police.
He allegedly then punched and kicked Paquinn, and also hit the friend with an electric guitar and microwave, among other household items, according to police.
Lead detective Sgt. Moses Marquez is working the case, and says there was one more gruesome detail to the murder.
"If you've ever watched the show, you'd know that the only way to kill a zombie is to attack it in its head," Sgt. Marquez said. "Well, when police arrived in this complex, there was a knife inside the victim's head."
"I do believe his story behind this is true. He genuinely felt that his friend was changing into a zombie due to his inebriated state," Sgt. Marquez continued. "Our department is dealing with something that I have never seen or heard of in my entire 13 years here."
Perry has been charged with an open count of murder and is being held at the Cibola County Detention Center.
23-year-old Damon Perry, told police he had been binge-watching "The Walking Dead" on Netflix recently after beating and stabbing his friend to death.
Via: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3944679.shtml#.Vi-M-n72CUn
Monday, October 26, 2015
Salon worker praised cryotherapy — then ‘froze to death’ during treatment
A freak accident takes the life of a 24-year old woman. Family members say Chelsea Ake "froze to death" in a Henderson, NV
cryochamber.
Employees at Rejuvenice made the tragic discovery earlier this week. Ake, a Hawaii native, was the manager of the business.
"I do know that she was alone closing the shop up, and then did go into the machine and apparently did not turn off," said her friend, Shae-Lynn Bee.
Authorities with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration say they believe Ake was in the chamber for at least 10 hours. A police report says the 24-year old used the machine without any assistance and may have suffocated. Investigators ruled "operator error."
"Chelsea's everything to me,” Bee said. “She was my best friend, and I'm going to miss her dearly."
Bee traveled from Hawaii to recover her best friend's body.
“It's very frustrating to know because you know there are no cameras in there,” Bee said. “Basically, the only person that does know what happened is Chelsea."
According to Wikipedia, whole-body cryotherapy is being offered by clinicians as an alternative to cold water immersion or ice packs. This treatment involves exposing individuals to extremely cold dry air for two to four minutes.
Cryotherapy experts say no one should be in the machine longer than three minutes. The cryo chamber temperatures go down to minus 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Ake's family says it will be hard to deal with such a bizarre way to lose someone.
"I just want everybody to know she was awesome and she loved everybody,” Bee said. “Her legacy will definitely move on through us."
The owners of Rejuvenice had no comment on the accident other than they mourn with the family and are saddened with the loss of their friend.
Via: http://www.news3lv.com/content/news/story/Henderson-cryotherapy-business-Ake-death-OSHA/V3Znn1ziHEC0wRDgzmlbQw.cspx
Employees at Rejuvenice made the tragic discovery earlier this week. Ake, a Hawaii native, was the manager of the business.
"I do know that she was alone closing the shop up, and then did go into the machine and apparently did not turn off," said her friend, Shae-Lynn Bee.
Authorities with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration say they believe Ake was in the chamber for at least 10 hours. A police report says the 24-year old used the machine without any assistance and may have suffocated. Investigators ruled "operator error."
"Chelsea's everything to me,” Bee said. “She was my best friend, and I'm going to miss her dearly."
Bee traveled from Hawaii to recover her best friend's body.
“It's very frustrating to know because you know there are no cameras in there,” Bee said. “Basically, the only person that does know what happened is Chelsea."
According to Wikipedia, whole-body cryotherapy is being offered by clinicians as an alternative to cold water immersion or ice packs. This treatment involves exposing individuals to extremely cold dry air for two to four minutes.
Cryotherapy experts say no one should be in the machine longer than three minutes. The cryo chamber temperatures go down to minus 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Ake's family says it will be hard to deal with such a bizarre way to lose someone.
"I just want everybody to know she was awesome and she loved everybody,” Bee said. “Her legacy will definitely move on through us."
The owners of Rejuvenice had no comment on the accident other than they mourn with the family and are saddened with the loss of their friend.
Via: http://www.news3lv.com/content/news/story/Henderson-cryotherapy-business-Ake-death-OSHA/V3Znn1ziHEC0wRDgzmlbQw.cspx
Monday, October 19, 2015
Man Runs Amok On Plane, Dies
Police in Ireland were investigating how a 24-year-old man on board an Aer Lingus flight from Lisbon to Dublin died on Sunday.Irish media reported that about an hour into the two-hour flight, the man became agitated. The pilot requested clearance to divert the flight after the man started to become "extremely violent," the Irish Mirror reported.
The pilot told controllers that there was a passenger "running amok" and that he had "injured one or two passengers," the newspaper reported. RTE News reported that he bit another passenger before being restrained and falling unconscious.
Crewmembers later told controllers that a doctor on board was treating the passenger, but that the man no longer had a pulse.
The captain diverted the flight to Cork, about 150 miles southwest of Dublin, where it landed shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time. The man was pronounced dead on board the airplane, The Irish Times reported. He'd been flying unaccompanied and was believed to be studying in Ireland.
The flight's 168 passengers and six crewmembers were interviewed by police. A male passenger injured during the flight was hospitalized.
Via: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/10/18/dublin-flight-man-dies/74194084/
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Murdered woman’s body found hanging on fence mistaken for Halloween decoration
The body of an Ohio woman who police say died while desperately trying to flee her suspected killer was found hanging from a fence — a sight spectators initially thought was for Halloween.
"It was straight out of a horror story," Tammy Dixon, whose nearby Chillicothe home is heavily decorated with spooky items, told WCPO-TV.
Rebecca Cade's sleeve had apparently become caught while trying to climb over the barbed wire fence bordering a Chillicothe power plant, police told the Columbus Dispatch.
The struggling 31-year-old mom, who had past run-ins with the law, reportedly died there after suffering blunt force trauma to her face and head. When fencing contractors found her Tuesday morning, her body was mistaken for a dummy.
A bloody rock was found nearby, detectives said, and 27-year-old Donnie Cochenour was arrested that same day for her murder.
Though Cade's killing is one of several to rock the city over the last 16 months, police have said that they don't believe it's tied to what some fear is a serial killer in their midst.
Angela Robinson, whose daughter Tameka Lynch was one of those tragic victims, said her heart goes out to Cade's family.
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/murder-victim-body-mistaken-halloween-decoration-article-1.2399057
"It was straight out of a horror story," Tammy Dixon, whose nearby Chillicothe home is heavily decorated with spooky items, told WCPO-TV.
Rebecca Cade's sleeve had apparently become caught while trying to climb over the barbed wire fence bordering a Chillicothe power plant, police told the Columbus Dispatch.
The struggling 31-year-old mom, who had past run-ins with the law, reportedly died there after suffering blunt force trauma to her face and head. When fencing contractors found her Tuesday morning, her body was mistaken for a dummy.
A bloody rock was found nearby, detectives said, and 27-year-old Donnie Cochenour was arrested that same day for her murder.
Though Cade's killing is one of several to rock the city over the last 16 months, police have said that they don't believe it's tied to what some fear is a serial killer in their midst.
Angela Robinson, whose daughter Tameka Lynch was one of those tragic victims, said her heart goes out to Cade's family.
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/murder-victim-body-mistaken-halloween-decoration-article-1.2399057
Good Samaritan Falls to Death While Helping at Crash Scene
A South Carolina good Samaritan fell to her death early Saturday when she stopped on a bridge to help a man who crashed his pickup truck.
Jessica Nicole Smith fell about 23 feet just before 2 a.m. after she heard a man crying for help under the Greenville County bridge and decided to try to crawl down and reach him, officials said.
The 29-year-old mom and certified nursing assistant’s friends and family said Smith died exactly how she lived — on a constant quest to help others.
“If anybody ever needed help, Jessica was always there. She'd go out of her way to help complete strangers, people she didn't know,” her sister Hope Smith told WYFF, adding that the family is “heartbroken and empty” following her death.
Investigators said Smith and several other do-gooders pulled over on I-385 around 1:30 a.m. after they spotted a wrecked pickup truck. As other people surveyed the crashed vehicle, Smith heard a man yelling from under the interstate bridge, witnesses said.
The man, who was the driver of the crashed truck, was thrown from his pickup during the wreck, witnesses said. Smith decided to climb over the bridge and try to help him.
Smith likely believed the underpass road was just a few feet below the bridge, officials said. As she tried to climb down to reach the man, she fell more than 20 feet to her death.
The condition of the man and the cause of the crash were not immediately clear.
Hope Smith said she is now taking care of her sister’s 9-year-old son Isaiah.
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/s-good-samaritan-falls-death-helping-crash-article-1.2376750
Jessica Nicole Smith fell about 23 feet just before 2 a.m. after she heard a man crying for help under the Greenville County bridge and decided to try to crawl down and reach him, officials said.
The 29-year-old mom and certified nursing assistant’s friends and family said Smith died exactly how she lived — on a constant quest to help others.
“If anybody ever needed help, Jessica was always there. She'd go out of her way to help complete strangers, people she didn't know,” her sister Hope Smith told WYFF, adding that the family is “heartbroken and empty” following her death.
Investigators said Smith and several other do-gooders pulled over on I-385 around 1:30 a.m. after they spotted a wrecked pickup truck. As other people surveyed the crashed vehicle, Smith heard a man yelling from under the interstate bridge, witnesses said.
The man, who was the driver of the crashed truck, was thrown from his pickup during the wreck, witnesses said. Smith decided to climb over the bridge and try to help him.
Smith likely believed the underpass road was just a few feet below the bridge, officials said. As she tried to climb down to reach the man, she fell more than 20 feet to her death.
The condition of the man and the cause of the crash were not immediately clear.
Hope Smith said she is now taking care of her sister’s 9-year-old son Isaiah.
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/s-good-samaritan-falls-death-helping-crash-article-1.2376750
British Tourist Falls To Death Taking Selfie
A British tourist plunged to her death in an Australian canyon as she posed for a photograph, an inquest has heard.
Zoe Woolmer fell almost 50 feet on to rocks and died at the Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory in June last year.
The 23-year-old had been posing for a picture at the beauty spot with a number of other tourists when the tragedy happened.
Witnesses explained that Woolmer slipped and fell after misplacing her right foot as she tried to get into position for the picture.
Tour guide Rebecca Gethen, from The Rock Tour Company, was guiding the group when they climbed onto the ledge of a cliff for the photograph.
"There was a scream and it took me a moment to register what had happened,” Gethen told the inquest, reported Mirror Online.
"She wasn't saying any words but she was groaning and moaning. She was looking up at me…I said, 'Help is on the way darling. Don't worry, I won't leave you.’”
Gethen, who was only six weeks into the job and on her fourth solo tour, had been trained to take visitors to the lookout spot just a few feet from the canyon's edge for photos.
When asked why she continued with the cliff edge visit, despite signposted warning at the canyon, Gethen said "I didn't think. I just wanted to get everything right that was in the itinerary and I wanted to do a good job."
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/brit-tourist-plunges-death-australia-posing-photo-article-1.2386768
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Man Dies Taking Selfie with Loaded Gun
A man trying to take an Instagram selfie died Tuesday.
The Texas man tried to take a picture of himself holding a gun to his head when the gun went off, according to the Houston Police Department , KHOU-TV reports.
Police say Deleon Smith was taking photos of his cousin and himself, according to KTRK-TV.
The Texas victim’s uncle said he ran into the apartment and attempted to resuscitate his nephew, but he had already died.
"It's the worst feeling of my life," Eric Douglas, the victim's uncle, told KTRK-TV.
The victim’s family said the teen leaves behind two young daughters, and was a fun-loving person. Family members said the shooting was a complete accident and the victim never talked about suicide, according to KHOU.
Investigators with the Houston Police Department are still looking into the shooting, but “all indications are this is an accident.”
No other injuries were reported.
VIA: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/09/01/teen-instagram-selfie-gun-dead/71551216/
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Couple 'having sex' on a Castle Die after Plunging 40ft into Moat
A French couple have fallen to their death while having sex at a historic fortress, it has been reported.
The couple in their early thirties apparently fell into the moat from the walls surrounding the castle at the Vauban Fort on the island of Chausey Archipelago in the English Channel. Reports have said the drop into the moat is 40ft high.
The naked bodies of a man and woman, who were both born in 1984, were found on Thursday morning.
Their belongings were reportedly found "above" at the castle. The man was found in a dried-out part of the moat while the body of a woman was found immersed in shallow water.
Police in the area told French Le Figaro newspaper that it was possible the pair were engaging in "lovemaking that could have gone wrong".
The couple were both from the Normandy region of France.
The fort was built on the orders of Napoleon III in 1859, and later held 300 German and Austrian prisoners of war during the First World War.
Via: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-couple-having-sex-on-a-castle-die-after-plunging-40ft-into-moat-10466999.html
The couple in their early thirties apparently fell into the moat from the walls surrounding the castle at the Vauban Fort on the island of Chausey Archipelago in the English Channel. Reports have said the drop into the moat is 40ft high.
The naked bodies of a man and woman, who were both born in 1984, were found on Thursday morning.
Their belongings were reportedly found "above" at the castle. The man was found in a dried-out part of the moat while the body of a woman was found immersed in shallow water.
Police in the area told French Le Figaro newspaper that it was possible the pair were engaging in "lovemaking that could have gone wrong".
The couple were both from the Normandy region of France.
The fort was built on the orders of Napoleon III in 1859, and later held 300 German and Austrian prisoners of war during the First World War.
Via: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-couple-having-sex-on-a-castle-die-after-plunging-40ft-into-moat-10466999.html
Monday, August 17, 2015
Batman Killed In Highway Crash
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Authorities say a man known for visiting hospitalized children dressed as Batman died in a crash on a western Maryland highway after his Batmobile had engine trouble.
Police say 51-year-old Leonard Robinson of Owings Mills was checking the engine of his Batmobile while standing in the fast lane of eastbound I-70 Sunday night when the car with hit by a Toyota Camry.
The driver of the Camry wasn't injured.
The crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the unincorporated community of Big Pool.
Robinson was known for traveling in costume to hospitals in the Baltimore-Washington area and gained national attention in 2012 when dashcam video surfaced of police pulling him over while he was driving his Batmobile.
The Washington Post reported in 2012 that Robinson spent more than $25,000 of his own money on Batman-related items every year, including toys, t-shirts and books he gave away to kids.
Via: http://news.yahoo.com/batman-impersonator-dies-highway-crash-140042143.html
Police say 51-year-old Leonard Robinson of Owings Mills was checking the engine of his Batmobile while standing in the fast lane of eastbound I-70 Sunday night when the car with hit by a Toyota Camry.
The driver of the Camry wasn't injured.
The crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the unincorporated community of Big Pool.
Robinson was known for traveling in costume to hospitals in the Baltimore-Washington area and gained national attention in 2012 when dashcam video surfaced of police pulling him over while he was driving his Batmobile.
The Washington Post reported in 2012 that Robinson spent more than $25,000 of his own money on Batman-related items every year, including toys, t-shirts and books he gave away to kids.
Via: http://news.yahoo.com/batman-impersonator-dies-highway-crash-140042143.html
Monday, August 10, 2015
Woman Dies in Bungee Jumping Accident On Vacation
A 23-year-old British woman died in a bungee jumping accident while her aunt watched on helplessly Tuesday during a vacation in Spain.
Kleyo De Abreu went on the adventurous excursion at the 260-foot Tablate Bridge in Lanjaron, near Granada, with her aunt, who lived in the area.
De Abreu plunged to her death about 3 p.m., hitting her head against the stone bridge while attached to a bungee cord, Spanish authorities said.
The aunt was forced to watch as De Abreu hung from the bungee cord before emergency responders arrived on scene.
Kleyo De Abreu went on the adventurous excursion at the 260-foot Tablate Bridge in Lanjaron, near Granada, with her aunt, who lived in the area.
De Abreu plunged to her death about 3 p.m., hitting her head against the stone bridge while attached to a bungee cord, Spanish authorities said.
The aunt was forced to watch as De Abreu hung from the bungee cord before emergency responders arrived on scene.
Man Dies During Sex with Scarecrow
A kinky Argentinian man croaked while having sex with a scarecrow that he dressed in lipstick and a wig — and strapped a sex toy on, according to reports.Jose Alberto, 58, was found dead in his San Jose de Balcare home, lying next to the straw doll, the Irish Mirror reported.
"There were no signs of violence, and we are working on the assumption that the man died during sex with the scarecrow," police spokesman Rodolfo Moure told the publication.
The depraved sex fiend, who tended to sheep, had puffed up the scarecrow with clothes and tied a 6-inch strap-on penis to it, reports said.
His rotting remains were found after neighbors complained to police of a foul stench coming from his home, where he lived alone.
Autopsy results have not yet been released.
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/man-dies-sex-scarecrow-strapped-sex-toy-article-1.2172316
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Man Dies Launching Firework Off Head
CALAIS, Maine —A young man who was drinking and celebrating the Fourth of July tried to launch a firework off the top of his head, fatally injuring himself, authorities said Sunday.
Devon Staples and his friends had been drinking and setting off fireworks Saturday night in the backyard of a friend’s home in the small eastern Maine city of Calais, said Stephen McCausland, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety. Staples, 22, of Calais, placed a fireworks mortar tube on his head and set it off, he said.
The firework exploded, killing Staples instantly, McCausland said.
His death is the first fireworks fatality in Maine since the state legalized fireworks on Jan. 1, 2012, authorities said.
Calais is on the Canadian border near New Brunswick.
State fire marshals were also investigating several other Fourth of July fireworks accidents involving injuries in Friendship, Jefferson, Lebanon and Woodstock. They said most of the accidents involved burns and eye injuries. McCausland said further details were expected to be released later Sunday.
In 2011, lawmakers voted to repeal a 1949 law banning fireworks, reasoning the industry would create jobs and generate additional revenue.
Via: http://nypost.com/2015/07/05/man-dies-instantly-after-launching-firework-off-head/
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Tiger Escaped From Zoo Kills Man
GA tiger that ran loose from Georgia's zoo after disastrous floods at the weekend has killed a man in central Tbilisi Wednesday, an interior ministry spokeswoman said.
"A tiger" has attacked and "killed a man", leading police to deploy special forces to hunt down the predator, ministry spokeswoman Nino Giorgobiani told AFP. Georgian media said it had been hiding in a warehouse and escaped the citywide police search for the roaming animals, many of whom were shot dead.
Floods hit Tbilisi on Sunday, killing at least 17 people and ravaging the city's central districts including the zoo, where hundreds of animals -- including lions, tigers, wolves and a hippo escaped.
Over half of the animals -- some 300 animals -- either drowned in the muddy waters or were killed by police.
Via: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/featured/escaped-lion-from-flooded-georgia-zoo-kills-man/ar-AAbHoeJ?ocid=DELLDHP
"A tiger" has attacked and "killed a man", leading police to deploy special forces to hunt down the predator, ministry spokeswoman Nino Giorgobiani told AFP. Georgian media said it had been hiding in a warehouse and escaped the citywide police search for the roaming animals, many of whom were shot dead.
Floods hit Tbilisi on Sunday, killing at least 17 people and ravaging the city's central districts including the zoo, where hundreds of animals -- including lions, tigers, wolves and a hippo escaped.
Over half of the animals -- some 300 animals -- either drowned in the muddy waters or were killed by police.
Via: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/featured/escaped-lion-from-flooded-georgia-zoo-kills-man/ar-AAbHoeJ?ocid=DELLDHP
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Man Shoots Self While Taking Selfie With Handgun
In these modern times, everyone -- even presidents -- often takes selfies to post on Facebook or Instagram. Some people like to express their strength by posing for a selfie with a gun. Even police chiefs do it. But when put together, guns and selfies can have tragic consequences.Oscar Otero Aguilar, 21, from Mexico City apparently wanted to pose for a selfie with a gun. As Mexico's Excelsior reported last week, Aguilar borrowed the gun and was said to have not known it was loaded. Local police suggested that he and his friends had been drinking, said the report.
The result was that the gun went off -- authorities said it was likely an accident -- and Aguilar died from his injuries.
Aguilar isn't even the first to have lost his life while attempting a gun-posing selfie.
Last year, Manuel Ortiz of Phoenix, Ariz., was shot dead as he and his sister posed for a Facebook selfie with a gun.
In that case, there were also reports of alcohol being a factor and suggestions that they didn't know the gun was loaded.
Via: http://www.cnet.com/news/man-poses-for-selfie-accidentally-shoots-self/ and http://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/2014/07/29/973328#imagen-5
Woman Accidentally Shoots Self In Head While Taking Selfie
A young Russian woman accidentally shot herself in the head with a pistol while posing for a selfie, Russian news agencies reported Friday, citing police.
The 21-year-old found a 9mm handgun left behind by a security guard at her Moscow office and decided to pose for a photograph holding it, a police spokesman told Interfax news agency.
While taking a selfie with one hand, she accidentally pressed the gun's trigger, shooting herself in the temple at close range.
The incident which happened Thursday but was confirmed by police on Friday, led to the woman being hospitalised in a Moscow clinic.
The victim was in a "serious condition" on Friday, a spokeswoman for Moscow's Sklifosovsky hospital told RIA Novosti state news agency.
Police are investigating how the woman, who was an office worker, got hold of the gun, a city police spokesman told RIA Novosti.
The security guard had left the gun at work two weeks earlier before going on holiday, the police spokesman said.
The trend for posting selfie photographs online led by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian has prompted risky behaviour worldwide.
A survey this month found 17 percent of Americans had taken a selfie while driving.
US investigators in February said a pilot's repeated snapping of selfie photos caused a small plane to crash, killing both people on board.
Via: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/russian-woman-accidentally-shoots-herself-while-taking-selfie/article1-1350111.aspx
Man Falls Off Cliff Taking Selfie in Bali
A Singaporean man has died after falling off a cliff and into the sea while attempting to take a selfie on an island off the coast of Bali in Indonesia.
Mohamed Aslam Shahul, 21, was killed after losing his balance and falling into the sea from a two-metre high cliff, during a holiday with eight friends at the Sandy Bay Beach in Nusa Lembongan.
The news of his death emerged as another selfie-related incident was reported in Russia today, after a young woman accidentally shot herself in the head while taking a photograph of herself.
The 21-year-old was said to have been posing while pointing a 9mm handgun to her head. She had found the gun at her Moscow office left behind by a security guard, police spokesman told Interfax news agency.
While taking a selfie with one hand, she accidentally pressed the gun’s trigger, shooting herself in the temple at close range, according to reports. The woman was in a “serious condition” today, a spokeswoman for Moscow’s Sklifosovsky hospital told RIA Novosti state news agency.
The man in Singapore had lost his balance after being hit by a wave, a local police chief said in a statement. “He slipped and fell into the ocean. He apparently couldn’t swim.”
Aslam’s body was found in the sea, five metres deep, according to police. Local residents had brought him to Jungut Batu community health centre where doctors declared him dead. “His body has been taken to Sanglah Hospital,” the police chief said.
A spokesperson for Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its embassy in Jakarta had extended its condolences to Aslam’s family, provided consular assistance and facilitated the repatriation of his body back to Singapore.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Elephant Escapes Circus, Kills Man On A Walk
BERLIN — A German man taking his regular morning stroll was killed by an elephant which had escaped from a nearby circus, police said Saturday.
The 65-year-old man was walking in the woods near Buchen, a town in southwest Germany, when the African elephant attacked him shortly after 5 a.m., said Heidelberg police spokeswoman Yvonne Schmierer.
She declined to say what injuries the unnamed man suffered.
The 34-year-old female elephant, called “Baby,” was captured and returned to the circus.
Police are now investigating whether someone let the elephant out of its secure enclosure, and why the animal acted aggressively toward the man.
“There’s evidence of third party involvement,” said Schmierer. “Either someone forgot to shut the enclosure, or the elephant was released intentionally.”
German news agency dpa reported that the elephant had previously injured people.
It quoted a representative of the German branch of animal rights group PETA calling for authorities to take the elephant away from the circus.
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/elephant-escapes-circus-kills-man-germany-article-1.2257097
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Man Dies Trapped In His Corvette Dream Car
A 72-year-old man from Port Arthur, Texas, died inside his dream car when the lock system malfunctioned and he was trapped inside his 2007 Corvette with his dog, Leia.James Rogers and his pet both died of heat exhaustion earlier this week, police said.
The accident is not uncommon for some Corvette models, owners say. A low battery or a low key fob battery can cause the locks to lock up. But there is a manual release on the driver's side that allows occupants to bypass the battery, according to owners' manuals.
Rogers apparently didn't know about that according to KBMT-TV. A battery cable had come loose, the station said.
He had just stopped in at a Waffle House, where he was a regular. As he got in his luxury car to leave, the doors and windows locked. He had accidentally left his phone inside the restaurant, so he was unable to call for help.
Another regular customer and employees tried to rescue Rogers but couldn't get the doors open. A firefighter eventually broke a window, but Rogers and his dog were already dead.
On an online Corvette forum, several posters detailed having been locked inside their cars.
"I called my wife and daughter to let me out with the extra set of keys. They laughed so hard and told everyone about it and they have made it a town joke about this," wrote a Corvette owner with the handle "syswayne."
Via: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/texas-man-72-dies-trapped-corvette-dream-car-article-1.2253934
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Lion Leaps Through Car Window, Mauls Woman To Death
Rules are there for a reason.
A woman has been killed in an attack by a lion at the Lion Park in the Lanseria/Honeydew area of Johannesburg.
Sources say another person was injured and the pair may have been driving with their car window open.
This is the third attack at the park in the past four months.
Scott Simpson, assistant operations manager at the Lion Park, said that details are still sketchy but he believes that a woman and a man were driving in the lion camp with windows open.
One of the lions jumped through the passenger window and bit the woman. The man was injured trying to push the lion off the woman.
"Our staff working at the top of the camp tried to get the lion away from the car. Ambulances were called immediately but it was too late," he said.
Simpson said visitors to the park are given plenty of warning not to leave their windows open.
"We make it so clear. We put signage up everywhere that people must keep their windows closed. We hand them a slip of paper when they enter the park, I really don’t understand why people think its okay to leave windows open," he said.
Via: www.enca.com/south-africa/woman-killed-lion-park-attack
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Dog poisoner dies after shooting himself with toxic dart
Karma was exceptionally cruel to one dog meat vendor in Hunan province, who was killed after accidentally shooting himself with the same kind of poisoned dart he used to take down dogs.
The unidentified man ran a lucrative dog meat-selling operation along with five others, who'd later admitted to killing more than 1,000 canines to be sold to restaurants. The ringleader had reportedly been demonstrating how to use a crossbow when it suddenly went off, shooting a poisonous dart into his leg. He died on his way to the hospital, according to SCMP.
The other members of the operation were later arrested, and confessed to freezing the canine carcasses with the intention of selling the meat to restaurants.
The lethal darts, when not in the hands of the hopelessly incompetent (may he rest in peace), are apparently very effective when it comes to hunting down strays. In December, we reported that dog thieves in a Hubei village were killing up to eight dogs per day using 15-centimeter-long winged darts. As you might expect, however, this isn't the first time the illegal business of poisoning dogs has resulted in human casualties. Last year, a man in Guangdong province who'd gotten in a scuffle with a local villager ended up using one of his toxic syringes to kill him. Two years before, an animal-lover who'd stepped in to stop a dog-meat dealer became the target of a poisoned needle. Most recently, in Shanghai, a man strangled a dog thief to death after discovering that his pet had been poisoned.
For those of you adventurous enough to taste dog meat in China—keep in mind how much of the toxic meatdoes end up making it to restaurants.
Via: http://shanghaiist.com/2015/05/27/dog-poisoner-dies-shooting-self-toxic-dart.php
Monday, May 11, 2015
Teacher Who Taught Class on Depression Dead by Suicide
The 31-year-old teacher who hanged herself in a Placentia high school classroom earlier this week had previously taught a class unit on suicide and depression.
Jillian Jacobson, a photography teacher at El Dorado High School, experienced a similarly tragic death in her family before she took her own life. Her father, Richard Prisbrey, committed suicide at the age of 55 in 2011. He had gone missing, and was found in his car in the desert with a bullet wound to his head, according to AP. Jacobson openly talked about her father's death to her students, and even did a week-long session on depression. She encouraged students to get help if they ever felt sad, and told them that they should never resort to suicide.
When students arrived for their first period class around 8:40 a.m. on Monday, they found that the classroom door was locked. After asking another teacher to unlock the door, they discovered Jacobson hanging from the ceiling. Paramedics arrived and tried to revive Jacobson, but she was declared dead at the scene.
“It’s sad for the students and fellow teachers who witnessed that,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi told the L.A. Times.
Even though Jacobson didn't leave a suicide note, authorities believe she had taken her own life. However, they do not know the motive behind her suicide and are interviewing her family to gain more insight. Authorities have scheduled an autopsy for her this week.
Jacobson was well-liked by her students and colleagues, and they described her as someone who seemed happy, according to the OC Register. Records showed that she lived in Anaheim with her 34-year-old husband.
Grief counselors have been speaking to students about Jacobson's death. “Everyone is still crying,” freshman Madelyn Pippin, one of Jacobson’s students, told the OC Register. “It’s just so sad walking past her door, knowing what happened inside.”
Students tweeted out photos of themselves with Jacobson, sending their condolences.
Via: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-teacher-dead-at-el-dorado-high-school-20150302-story.html
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone, remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt, and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Jillian Jacobson, a photography teacher at El Dorado High School, experienced a similarly tragic death in her family before she took her own life. Her father, Richard Prisbrey, committed suicide at the age of 55 in 2011. He had gone missing, and was found in his car in the desert with a bullet wound to his head, according to AP. Jacobson openly talked about her father's death to her students, and even did a week-long session on depression. She encouraged students to get help if they ever felt sad, and told them that they should never resort to suicide.
When students arrived for their first period class around 8:40 a.m. on Monday, they found that the classroom door was locked. After asking another teacher to unlock the door, they discovered Jacobson hanging from the ceiling. Paramedics arrived and tried to revive Jacobson, but she was declared dead at the scene.
“It’s sad for the students and fellow teachers who witnessed that,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi told the L.A. Times.
Even though Jacobson didn't leave a suicide note, authorities believe she had taken her own life. However, they do not know the motive behind her suicide and are interviewing her family to gain more insight. Authorities have scheduled an autopsy for her this week.
Jacobson was well-liked by her students and colleagues, and they described her as someone who seemed happy, according to the OC Register. Records showed that she lived in Anaheim with her 34-year-old husband.
Grief counselors have been speaking to students about Jacobson's death. “Everyone is still crying,” freshman Madelyn Pippin, one of Jacobson’s students, told the OC Register. “It’s just so sad walking past her door, knowing what happened inside.”
Students tweeted out photos of themselves with Jacobson, sending their condolences.
Via: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-teacher-dead-at-el-dorado-high-school-20150302-story.html
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone, remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt, and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Man Dies After Having Sex With Scarecrow
A man was found dead in his home after having sex with a scarecrow that he had dressed up in a wig, lipstick and strap-on sex toy.
The rotting remains of Jose Alberto were discovered in his home after neighbours reported a foul smell coming from the building.
Police forced their way into the home in San Jose de Balcare, eastern Argentina, and were stunned to discover the 58-year-old shepherd lying dead.
Next to him lay a scarecrow that had been dressed up as a woman - but wearing a strap-on sex toy.
Rodolfo Moure, a spokesman for the prosecutor, said: "I initially thought there were two bodies but then I realised one was a scarecrow wearing lipstick and a long-haired wig.
"It was lying next to the deceased and had a six-inch strap-on penis.
"There were no signs of violence and we are working on the assumption that the man died during sex with the scarecrow.
"Straw had been stuffed inside the old clothes that had been sewn together to make the scarecrow.
"We are now waiting the results of an autopsy.”
Neighbours said the man, who was known to live alone and had no mobile phone, was often seen as a loner.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Out-of-date GPS Causes Man To Drive Off Bridge
An out-of-town driver following his car’s outdated GPS system drove off of a demolished Indiana bridge, killing his wife in the passenger seat, deputies said.Iftikhar Hussain, 64, drove the couple’s 2014 Nissan Sentra off East Chicago’s Cline Avenue bridge — which closed in 2009 and is barricaded with bright orange barrels and cones. The car burst into flames after the 37-foot-plunge into pavement below, The Times of Munster reported.
His wife, 51-year-old Zohra Hussain, died from burns, police said. Iftikhar Hussain was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injures.
Lake County deputies said Hussain was likely following directions from his GPS navigation system, which instructed him to turn onto a ramp to the now-demolished bridge over the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. The couple, from Chicago, were driving to visit family in Indiana and likely didn’t know the area, Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Patricia Van Til said.
While the road leading up to the bridge is marked with large signs that read “road closed,” orange barrels and other barricades, Hussain was likely paying more attention to his GPS than the road, deputies said.
The Cline Avenue bridge closed in 2009 after deterioration from years of use from heavy semi-trucks made it a safety risk. A year later, officials condemned it. Construction of a new bridge over the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal is scheduled to begin this spring.
Via: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gps-may-have-told-man-to-drive-off-indiana-bridge-cops/ar-AAacOJs?ocid=DELLDHP
Friday, March 27, 2015
Husband Dies After Grabbing Steering Wheel During Fight
HOUSTON — A man was killed Friday after grabbing the steering wheel of a car his wife was driving as they argued, police said.
The Ford Explorer rolled over just around 1:45 a.m. CT on Interstate 69 here, and the man, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and later died, according to the Houston Police Department.
The names of the couple, who had moved recently to Houston, were not released.
The woman, who was wearing her seat belt, told officers that she and her husband were having a heated argument.
"The female didn't have any injuries," Sgt. J.D. Rossman said. "She was evaluated by a DWI officer and found not to be intoxicated."
Her husband grabbed the wheel from the passenger seat and jerked it, she said to investigators. The vehicle swerved. She lost control. It climbed over the median into oncoming traffic and rolled over, landing on an adjacent access road.
She was trapped inside until rescuers were able to extricate her and was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
No charges are expected to be filed, Rossman said.
Via: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/27/arguing-couple-traffic-accident/70545050/
The Ford Explorer rolled over just around 1:45 a.m. CT on Interstate 69 here, and the man, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and later died, according to the Houston Police Department.
The names of the couple, who had moved recently to Houston, were not released.
The woman, who was wearing her seat belt, told officers that she and her husband were having a heated argument.
"The female didn't have any injuries," Sgt. J.D. Rossman said. "She was evaluated by a DWI officer and found not to be intoxicated."
Her husband grabbed the wheel from the passenger seat and jerked it, she said to investigators. The vehicle swerved. She lost control. It climbed over the median into oncoming traffic and rolled over, landing on an adjacent access road.
She was trapped inside until rescuers were able to extricate her and was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
No charges are expected to be filed, Rossman said.
Via: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/27/arguing-couple-traffic-accident/70545050/
Monday, January 12, 2015
20 Years in Prison - Wrongfully Convicted Man Dies Just Months After Release
A Brooklyn man who spent over two decades in prison for a crime he didn't commit died less than a year after he was exonerated by the Kings County District Attorney. Sharrif Wilson, 38, passed away on Saturday night at Mount Sinai Hospital; he had been hospitalized since December after complaining of breathing problems. His attorney Adam Perlmutter tells the Daily News, "He was a young healthy man when he went in and he was a sick unhealthy man when he came out."
Wilson and his alleged accomplice Antonio Yarbough spent more than two decades in prison for the 1992 murders of Yarbough’s mother, his 12-year-old sister and another 12-year-old relative. Wilson, who was 15 at the time of his arrest, had confessed to the murders and testified against Yarbough as part of a plea deal, but he later recanted, saying his confession had been coerced.
Yarbough, who discovered the bodies of his loved ones and called 911, later told CNN, "Before you know it, I had this photograph shoved in my face, and I was being threatened and slapped around, and they wanted me to sign a false confession. And I wouldn't." Wilson said, "I was scared, afraid; I was lied to, manipulated into believing that I was going to go home, if I do tell... what they said happened." Watch a powerful interview the two men granted to CNN after their release:
In 2013, DNA testing revealed that blood under one of the victim's fingernails matched DNA found on the body of another murder victim from 1999, Magdalia Ruiz. Both Yarbough and Wilson were already in prison by that time for the Yarbough murders. Last February, the two men were finally released and their convictions overturned following a review of the case that was completed by Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson.
Since ousting longtime Kings County DA Charles Hynes, who lost a nasty reelection bid in 2013, Thompson has been reviewing dozens of potential wrongful convictions that happened on Hynes's watch. And the dubious legacy of homicide detective Louis Scarcella has prompted an investigation into over 50 convictions that may have been won through coerced confessions and discredited witnesses. (Hynes is also being investigated by the feds for allegedly using state asset forfeiture funds to fund his failed 2013 campaign.)
Hynes’s office "resisted requests to reinvestigate" the Wilson and Yarbough case for months, the Times reported last year. When he was finally released last February, Wilson said, "I was young, afraid, not used to being in the precinct and the justice system. I didn’t know much then. It was pretty easy for them to coerce me into giving false statements."
Wilson suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome, which was allegedly exacerbated by his lengthy prison term. "I find it heartbreaking that a boy could serve (21) years for a crime he didn’t commit and finally come home and have only 11 months to spend with his family,” Yarbough said in a statement released over the weekend. "My heart breaks for the family and the mother that lost her son not once but twice."
The murderer of Yarbough's family remains at large. Wilson's lawyer says his family is planning to file a civil suit against the city and New York state.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)