Train hits bus in Evans City; one dead, 10 injured.

Date: 04/26/2013
Time: Around 8:10 A.M.
Location: Evans City, Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s) Involved: Ford E-450 bus, train

By Molly Born, Liz Navratil and Jonathan D. Silver / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A rural Butler County railroad crossing where a freight train carrying asphalt collided Friday with a paratransit bus in heavy fog -- killing one person and injuring 10 others -- lacked warning lights and swinging gate arms to halt traffic.

For unknown reasons the bus ended up with its passengers -- elderly and disabled adults -- atop the tracks at Maple Avenue in Evans City around 8:10 a.m., when the 31-car train slammed into its driver's side, knocking the vehicle askew and totaling it.

Two critically injured passengers were flown by medical helicopter to Pittsburgh-area hospitals. One of them, 91-year-old Claudette Miller of Callery, died at Allegheny General Hospital at 1:02 p.m., according to the Allegheny County medical examiner's office.

The other remained in critical condition, and Evans City police Chief Joseph McCombs said the passenger might not survive.

Everyone else on the bus, including the driver -- identified by Chief McCombs as Frank Schaffner, 59, of Butler -- was taken by ambulance to hospitals in Allegheny and Butler counties. Hospital officials said their injuries were not life-threatening.

Conflicting accounts emerged about whether the driver was stopped or in the process of crossing the tracks when the crash occurred. Also unclear was the role the fog played.

"For some unknown reason, it stopped directly in the crossing," Chief McCombs said of the bus. Police said the train's engineer told them he sounded the horn "numerous times."

Chief McCombs said the bus, which was going east toward South Washington Street, entered the crossing and did not move as the Allegheny Valley Railroad train -- composed of two locomotives and 29 cars -- was approaching.

The train was believed to be moving around 25 mph -- the speed limit -- according to information provided to federal inspectors by the engineer and conductor.

The engineer saw the bus, sounded the horn several times and applied the brakes before the crash, which Chief McCombs described as "pretty chaotic" with "pretty severe impact."

Michael Robb, executive director of the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources Inc., which oversees the program under whose auspices the passengers were being transported, relayed a different version of events.

"I don't believe the bus stopped on the train tracks at all. He stopped prior to the tracks as he's required and as he was crossing the tracks he was hit," Mr. Robb said.

"It really is at the driver's discernment whether a train was coming. I do not know if the train blew the whistle or not. All I know is that our driver was conscious enough to give his report to local authorities that he stopped. As he was crossing he was struck by the train."

Mr. Robb said he had not spoken to the driver. He expressed sympathy to the victims and said transportation services will continue.


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Driver killed after crashing into pole on Hwy 29.

Date: 04/23/2013
Time: Around 4:00 P.M.
Location: Lilburn, Georgia
Vehicle(s) Involved: Cadillac Escalade

By wsbtv2

"GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A crash in Lilburn left one person dead Tuesday afternoon.

The crash happened at the intersection of Lawrenceville Highway (Hwy 29) and Indian Trail Road. Southbound traffic on Lawrenceville Highway was blocked while authorities investigated.

Lilburn police said a red SUV traveling southbound on Lawrenceville Highway crashed into a pole around 4 p.m. Police said the car caught fire and the victim was dead when officers arrived.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area as up to three-hour delays are expected."

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Information sought in fatal crash.

Date: 04/20/2013
Time: Around 5:30 A.M.
Location: Marinette, Wisconsin
Vehicle(s) Involved: Chevy Tahoe

By FOX11

"MARINETTE - Marinette County authorities are looking for more information about a weekend crash in which a victim was later found dead at a home.
A damaged SUV sits empty inside the Marinette County Sheriff's Department, and a few days ago, that's exactly the way deputies found it.
"Our officer got there, there was no one around the vehicle," explained Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Sauve.
Sheriff's officials say they were called to a ditch along County W, just west of Crivitz, around 5:40 a.m. Saturday. A vehicle was found rolled over, but no people were in the area.
Officers say their investigation led them to the town of Stephenson home of the registered owner. The first time they stopped there, no one answered the door.
They returned around noon and met with the vehicle's owner. He told officers his roommate was also in the vehicle when it crashed the previous night.
When officers asked to speak with this man, the vehicle owner took them to an upstairs bedroom, where the roommate was found unconscious and presumed dead. The county coroner was then called. He pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
"We had an autopsy done on the victim Monday morning and it's been determined that he died of internal injuries sustained in the crash," Sauve said.
The dead man has been identified as 52-year-old Steven J. Hirth. Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Officials say there are still a lot of unanswered questions, but they ultimately feel the outcome could have been different.
"It's not uncommon for us to get people who crash their car and take off on us because they've been drinking or just want to avoid law enforcement," Sauve explained. "In this case, had they stayed at the scene and received proper medical attention, there's a good chance that perhaps he could have survived."
Emergency Room doctors agree.
"It's very important after a serious accident that you be evaluated, especially if you have alcohol in your system, because that can cloud some of the symptoms of serious injuries," explained Dr. Michael DeFrank with St. Mary's Hospital.
Because of the on-going investigation, authorities are not releasing the name of the vehicle's registered owner."

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Long-term City Worker Hit, Killed When Speeding Car Crashes & Flips At City Hall.

Date: 04/09/2013
Time: Around 2:00 P.M.
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Vehicle(s) Involved: Acura TL

By CBS Balitmore

"BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Chaos outside City Hall. An out-of control driver flips his car while trying to evade police, killing a city worker. A community is mourning that longtime activist.
Meghan McCorkell has more on this tragedy.
That car landed right in the front of City Hall.
Witnesses tackled the driver to the ground and held him there until police came.
More than 100 mph. That’s how fast police say this Acura was flying down the JFX.
“Next thing I heard was a crash and went running,” a witness said.
A state trooper spotted it and followed as the driver got off the highway and ran two red lights.
“Let me assure you there was no pursuit at that point in time,” said Sgt. Marc Black with Maryland State Police.

The car hit a city worker and then flipped in the air.
The driver jumped out and tried to run– but witnesses stopped him.
“I grabbed the guy by his dreadlocks, pulled him down to the ground, stepped on his neck and said don’t move,” said Cesar Lithgow.
Police captured the suspect.
City worker Matthew Hersl, 45, was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to records, Hersl had worked here in the city finance department for the past 28 years.
“I’m extremely saddened by the news, and again my prayers, and I hope the prayers of our city, are with his family,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
“To have a tragedy like this is just heartbreaking,” said City Council President Jack Young.
Hersl— a big Orioles fan— was an integral part of his Little Italy neighborhood.
“He always put the community first, always wanted to help make it a better place for everybody,” said neighbor Jim Palermo.
He served on several community organizations and helped run Citizens on Patrol.
“It’s sick. I lost my right arm. I lost my right arm in this community. He did everything, just a naturally down-to-Earth generally good guy,” said Mary Ann Campanella, victim’s friend.
A memorial sits outside Hersl’s front door, as neighbors honor a man who gave back so much.
Some community members in Little Italy say they plan to hold a special memorial service for Hersl.
The suspect was treated for minor injuries.
Police have not yet identified him."

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Crash on 1st St. closes road for hours.

Date: 04/03/2013
Time: Morning
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Vehicle(s) Involved: Chevy Impala, Honda Odyssey

By WLKY

"LOUISVILLE, Ky. —There was an accident at 1st Street and Broadway Wednesday morning.

Police say around 8 a.m., two cars collided when one of them ran a red light.

One of the drivers was taken to University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

One of the cars hit a traffic light pole and knocked it down.

First Street near Chestnut Street was closed for hours.

The crash is under investigation."

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