A California driver fleeing from police died after launching his Mercedes-Benz sedan over the San Joaquin River at nearly 100 miles per hour, according to multiple reports.
The car flew roughly 330 feet across the river, stunning local police. As the silver Mercedes descended, it took the tops off trees and then crashed and rolled into an upright position, witnesses said.
"In my 20 years, I've never seen a vehicle travel close to that distance," California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesman Mike Salas told Fresno's KFSN-TV. He added that it traveled "approximately 337 feet."
David Callahan, 58, was killed on impact, the outlet said. He was the only person in the vehicle.
Before the fatal crash, Callahan was reportedly being pursued by Fresno police around 8:30 a.m., failing to pull over after they noticed his swerving car -- which almost struck a patrol car, the outlet said. CHP said an incident at his home may have prompted his agitated mental state.
"They were able to find that some issues were going on at the house that may have contributed to him leaving erratically from his residence," Salas told the station.
Last July, Fresno police were called to his family's residence after Callahan's wife said he was using drugs and pushed her, according to the outlet.
A witness near the incident said Callahan made a U-turn before sending his vehicle airborne.
“Like at 100 miles per hour, he cleared the whole damn river," Bryan Zollars told Fresno's KSEE-TV.
Friends of the victim told KFSN they were "confused as to why he did what he did," adding that Callahan was a generous person.
“What may have been going through his mind to drive this fast?” CHP Officer Matt Zulim asked, according to the outlet. “And to do what he did in his car today. ... He jumped the San Joaquin River. It’s an absolute tragedy. You never want to see someone die — especially in this fashion.”
Via: https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-dies-jumping-300-feet-california-river-mercedes
Monday, February 10, 2020
Man who killed stepdad with ‘atomic wedgie’ gets 30 years in prison
An Oklahoma man who killed his stepfather after delivering an "atomic wedgie" was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday.
Brad Davis, 35, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a deal with prosecutors in May after his 58-year-old stepdad was found dead at his McLoud home in December 2013.
The former Marine pulled Denver Lee St. Clair's underwear over his head during a fight, but the band got wrapped around his neck and strangled him, Davis told investigators.
Davis did not intend to kill St. Clair, who had bullied him throughout his life and had instigated the fight by insulting his mom, Davis' attorney said in May.
Prosecutors initially charged Davis with first-degree murder, saying he beat St. Clair with an object, before staging the crime scene to make it appear like a fight, the Oklahoman reported.
They later agreed to a deal with the defense, although could not agree about sentencing.
Pottawatomie County District Judge John G. Canavan Jr. sided with prosecutors' recommendations Thursday, rejecting the defense's attempt for a four-year sentence.
The judge found it disturbing that Davis took cellphone pictures of St. Clair as the man was unconscious and in distress.
Via: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-killed-stepdad-atomic-wedgie-30-years-article-1.2295419
Brad Davis, 35, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a deal with prosecutors in May after his 58-year-old stepdad was found dead at his McLoud home in December 2013.
The former Marine pulled Denver Lee St. Clair's underwear over his head during a fight, but the band got wrapped around his neck and strangled him, Davis told investigators.
Davis did not intend to kill St. Clair, who had bullied him throughout his life and had instigated the fight by insulting his mom, Davis' attorney said in May.
Prosecutors initially charged Davis with first-degree murder, saying he beat St. Clair with an object, before staging the crime scene to make it appear like a fight, the Oklahoman reported.
They later agreed to a deal with the defense, although could not agree about sentencing.
Pottawatomie County District Judge John G. Canavan Jr. sided with prosecutors' recommendations Thursday, rejecting the defense's attempt for a four-year sentence.
The judge found it disturbing that Davis took cellphone pictures of St. Clair as the man was unconscious and in distress.
Via: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-killed-stepdad-atomic-wedgie-30-years-article-1.2295419
Man Devoured By Alligator While Hiding from Police
This headline could have left out the location of this incident and you'd have known it took place in the World's Craziest Peninsula™ anyway. This is quintessential Florida Man: criminal activity, unconventional encounters with police, and an outrageous Floridian twist, usually involving drug use.
In this case, the twist is that would-be burglar Matthew Riggins attempted to hide from police and, in the process, was devoured by a swamp monster from the gates of hell. (Hell, here, is Brevard County, Florida.) "Riggins and an accomplice were spotted lurking behind homes by neighbors who called the police," the Daily Mail reports. A police chase ensued, complete with K-9 units, but both suspects managed to get away—from the cops, anyway.
"He probably went into the lake to hide from the officers and the dog, and came across that gator," said Major Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County sheriff's office.
It's unclear whether Riggins was near Barefoot Bay Pond or in it when he encountered the beast. His family reported him missing that night—November 13—but his body was not found floating in the lake until 10 days later. When divers attempted to retrieve it, they were repeatedly attacked by the alligator, which forced a trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to put the animal down. An analysis of its stomach and an autopsy of Riggins' body confirmed that the alligator drowned Riggins and then ate some of the remains.
"To hide somewhere to try and get away, and then meeting up with an animal like that, no, I've never had that happen before," said Major Goodyear, which is almost surprising.
"I would say it's poetic justice, you want to sit there and steal from people," said local Florida Man Chuck Stotes.
Death-by-alligator seems like a harsh penalty for attempted burglary, but what do I know? At least the gator wasn't on bath salts.
Via: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3350360/He-hid-wrong-place-Florida-man-killed-eaten-ALLIGATOR-hiding-police-caught-robbing-homes.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailus
In this case, the twist is that would-be burglar Matthew Riggins attempted to hide from police and, in the process, was devoured by a swamp monster from the gates of hell. (Hell, here, is Brevard County, Florida.) "Riggins and an accomplice were spotted lurking behind homes by neighbors who called the police," the Daily Mail reports. A police chase ensued, complete with K-9 units, but both suspects managed to get away—from the cops, anyway.
"He probably went into the lake to hide from the officers and the dog, and came across that gator," said Major Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County sheriff's office.
It's unclear whether Riggins was near Barefoot Bay Pond or in it when he encountered the beast. His family reported him missing that night—November 13—but his body was not found floating in the lake until 10 days later. When divers attempted to retrieve it, they were repeatedly attacked by the alligator, which forced a trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to put the animal down. An analysis of its stomach and an autopsy of Riggins' body confirmed that the alligator drowned Riggins and then ate some of the remains.
"To hide somewhere to try and get away, and then meeting up with an animal like that, no, I've never had that happen before," said Major Goodyear, which is almost surprising.
"I would say it's poetic justice, you want to sit there and steal from people," said local Florida Man Chuck Stotes.
Death-by-alligator seems like a harsh penalty for attempted burglary, but what do I know? At least the gator wasn't on bath salts.
Via: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3350360/He-hid-wrong-place-Florida-man-killed-eaten-ALLIGATOR-hiding-police-caught-robbing-homes.html?ito=social-twitter_dailymailus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)