HARPERS FERRY- An 87-year-old Harpers Ferry woman was killed and two other women were injured in a two-vehicle accident Monday afternoon on U.S. 340 North near Harpers Ferry.
Bettie Lee Bond was pronounced dead at Jefferson Memorial Hospital shortly after being transported by Jefferson County EMS from the accident scene, according to a news release issued by 1st Sgt. E.D. Burnett of the West Virginia State Police.
Bond was a passenger in a light blue 2000 Honda Civic driven by Elizabeth Auvil, 63, of Martinsburg.
According to the release, Trooper M.C. Harper of the West Virginia State Police was patrolling U.S. 340 North when he came upon a motor vehicle accident at the highway's intersection with Millville Road.
A yellow 2006 Dodge Charger was facing northwest and partially blocking one northbound lane of the highway, while the Civic was found facing southeast into a guardrail. Each car had sustained heavy damage, and the occupants of the Civic were trapped inside their vehicle, the release states.
Harper was able to administer first aid until EMS units arrived. Once the victims were extricated, Auvil was air lifted to Winchester Medical Center, while Bond was transported to Jefferson Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the Charger, Donna E. Sutch, 43, of Harpers Ferry, was treated by EMS at the scene.
According to police, Sutch was traveling east on Bakerton Road and was crossing U.S. 340 onto Millville Road, while Auvil was driving in a northbound lane of U.S. 340. The Civic crashed into the passenger's side door of Sutch's vehicle as she was crossing the road.
Police said Bond was not wearing a seatbelt.
Sutch was cited by police for failure to yield, police said.
Harper was assisted by Trooper T.S. Perry and Trooper C.J. Berry of the West Virginia State Police, along with Chief Donald Buracker and Patrolman M.T. Schul of the Harpers Ferry Police Department.
Source
Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
US Suspect in Afghan Deaths to Be Held Until Trial
A former Blackwater contractor charged in the shooting deaths of two Afghans will be held in custody until his trial because his history of disregarding authority suggests he would break conditions set for his release, a judge ruled Tuesday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Tommy Miller also found that Christopher Drotleff, 29, of Virginia Beach would be a potential danger to the public if he were freed on bond. He cited a bizarre incident in September in which prosecutors say Drotleff invited FBI agents to his home to talk, then refused to let them in and called police to report that armed men were trying to enter his house.
Miller said Drotleff's actions created ''the equivalent of an ambush situation'' that could have had local police confronting armed FBI agents they believed to be intruders.
Drotleff and another former contractor, 27-year-old Justin Cannon of Corpus Christi, Texas, are charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. They are eligible for the federal death penalty, although the attorney general has not determined whether to seek it.
Both men have said they were justified in opening fire last year on a car that caused an accident in front of their vehicle at a Kabul intersection. The men were in the country to train the Afghan National Army.
Federal prosecutor Randy Stoker said Drotleff had been drinking in violation of military and company policy the day of the shooting and that he left the base without authorization. Drotleff's attorney, Lawrence Woodward, said the men were driving some interpreters home when a car rammed the vehicle ahead of them. He said they got out to help the crash victims and fired their weapons only after the car that caused the accident sped toward them.
Stoker said the shooting was unprovoked. He said bullet holes showed that some of the shots were fired from behind the car as its driver tried to flee.
Much of the 90-minute hearing focused on Drotleff's military and criminal records. Drotleff was punished several times for unauthorized absences and disrespecting officers during more than two years in the U.S. Marines. Stoker said Drotleff told court officials he was discharged in 2001 for refusing an anthrax shot, but records showed he received a less-than-honorable discharge after altering a military ID.
The prosecutor also noted that Drotleff's criminal record includes drunken driving, assault and resisting arrest.
Woodward acknowledged that Drotleff had a bad military record, but he said that was 10 years ago. He also said Drotleff's criminal record shows no felony convictions.
Woodward said Drotleff had a job lined up working for a plumbing company. He said that if Drotleff had wanted to flee, he could have done so months ago but he stayed and cooperated with authorities.
But the judge said he was troubled by Drotleff's ''abysmal'' military record and scrapes with the law. ''He has disobeyed direct orders on numerous occasions,'' Miller said.
A trial date has not been set.
A detention hearing for Cannon is scheduled for Thursday in Texas, Stoker said.
Drotleff and Cannon were arrested last week, a day after Xe -- the North Carolina-based company formerly known as Blackwater -- settled a series of federal lawsuits alleging that illegal activity by the company led to the deaths of dozens of Iraqis. Those killings and other problems in Iraq have led to the U.S. government's push to increase oversight of contractors in war zones.
Source
U.S. Magistrate Judge Tommy Miller also found that Christopher Drotleff, 29, of Virginia Beach would be a potential danger to the public if he were freed on bond. He cited a bizarre incident in September in which prosecutors say Drotleff invited FBI agents to his home to talk, then refused to let them in and called police to report that armed men were trying to enter his house.
Miller said Drotleff's actions created ''the equivalent of an ambush situation'' that could have had local police confronting armed FBI agents they believed to be intruders.
Drotleff and another former contractor, 27-year-old Justin Cannon of Corpus Christi, Texas, are charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. They are eligible for the federal death penalty, although the attorney general has not determined whether to seek it.
Both men have said they were justified in opening fire last year on a car that caused an accident in front of their vehicle at a Kabul intersection. The men were in the country to train the Afghan National Army.
Federal prosecutor Randy Stoker said Drotleff had been drinking in violation of military and company policy the day of the shooting and that he left the base without authorization. Drotleff's attorney, Lawrence Woodward, said the men were driving some interpreters home when a car rammed the vehicle ahead of them. He said they got out to help the crash victims and fired their weapons only after the car that caused the accident sped toward them.
Stoker said the shooting was unprovoked. He said bullet holes showed that some of the shots were fired from behind the car as its driver tried to flee.
Much of the 90-minute hearing focused on Drotleff's military and criminal records. Drotleff was punished several times for unauthorized absences and disrespecting officers during more than two years in the U.S. Marines. Stoker said Drotleff told court officials he was discharged in 2001 for refusing an anthrax shot, but records showed he received a less-than-honorable discharge after altering a military ID.
The prosecutor also noted that Drotleff's criminal record includes drunken driving, assault and resisting arrest.
Woodward acknowledged that Drotleff had a bad military record, but he said that was 10 years ago. He also said Drotleff's criminal record shows no felony convictions.
Woodward said Drotleff had a job lined up working for a plumbing company. He said that if Drotleff had wanted to flee, he could have done so months ago but he stayed and cooperated with authorities.
But the judge said he was troubled by Drotleff's ''abysmal'' military record and scrapes with the law. ''He has disobeyed direct orders on numerous occasions,'' Miller said.
A trial date has not been set.
A detention hearing for Cannon is scheduled for Thursday in Texas, Stoker said.
Drotleff and Cannon were arrested last week, a day after Xe -- the North Carolina-based company formerly known as Blackwater -- settled a series of federal lawsuits alleging that illegal activity by the company led to the deaths of dozens of Iraqis. Those killings and other problems in Iraq have led to the U.S. government's push to increase oversight of contractors in war zones.
Source
Friday, January 15, 2010
WR Moody in severe car accident
Wide receiver Ryan Moody was severely injured in a car accident late Saturday night and was listed in serious, but stable condition early Tuesday, according to a College official. The redshirt freshman was taken to Riverside Medical Center following the accident, and had an unspecified surgery late Tuesday afternoon.
Moody was able to receive visitors Sunday and Monday, and appeared to be progressing well in his recovery.
“Obviously, the thoughts and prayers of our entire department are with he and his family at this time,” Athletic Department spokesman Pete Clawson said.
Moody had been out for the season following an ankle injury suffered against Central Connecticut on Sept. 12. He had three catches for 70 yards in his collegiate debut Sept. 5 against Virginia, and had remained with the team, including being on the sideline in a cast Saturday against James Madison.
Source
Moody was able to receive visitors Sunday and Monday, and appeared to be progressing well in his recovery.
“Obviously, the thoughts and prayers of our entire department are with he and his family at this time,” Athletic Department spokesman Pete Clawson said.
Moody had been out for the season following an ankle injury suffered against Central Connecticut on Sept. 12. He had three catches for 70 yards in his collegiate debut Sept. 5 against Virginia, and had remained with the team, including being on the sideline in a cast Saturday against James Madison.
Source
Monday, December 28, 2009
Mining death reported in West Virginia
There aren’t many details yet available from authorities, but West Virginia suffered its third coal-mining death of the year this morning.
A miner — not yet identified — was killed in a hoist car accident at Newtown Energy’s Eagle Mine in Kanawha County Boone County, according to Jama Jarrett, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training. A second miner was also injured, but there was no immediate word on his condition. Two other miners were also injured, one with minor shoulder and facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries, Jarrett said.
This is the 14th coal-mining death nationwide so far in 2009. It is the first since former United Mine Workers safety director Joe Main was confirmed last week as President Obama’s assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.
Taking a quick look, the Eagle Mine is an underground operation that listed more than 200 workers and about 600,000 tons of production through the first three quarters of 2009, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Since opening in 2000, the Eagle Mine has consistently recorded an injury rate far worse than the national average — as much as three times higher — according to MSHA’s data. Last year, the operation was among those warned by MSHA to clean up its act or face tougher enforcement action for a “pattern of violations.”
Source
A miner — not yet identified — was killed in a hoist car accident at Newtown Energy’s Eagle Mine in Kanawha County Boone County, according to Jama Jarrett, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training. A second miner was also injured, but there was no immediate word on his condition. Two other miners were also injured, one with minor shoulder and facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries, Jarrett said.
This is the 14th coal-mining death nationwide so far in 2009. It is the first since former United Mine Workers safety director Joe Main was confirmed last week as President Obama’s assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.
Taking a quick look, the Eagle Mine is an underground operation that listed more than 200 workers and about 600,000 tons of production through the first three quarters of 2009, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Since opening in 2000, the Eagle Mine has consistently recorded an injury rate far worse than the national average — as much as three times higher — according to MSHA’s data. Last year, the operation was among those warned by MSHA to clean up its act or face tougher enforcement action for a “pattern of violations.”
Source
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
One Killed, Two Injured in Boone County Mine Accident
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training reports that West Virginia has suffered its third coal mining fatality of the year.
Agency spokeswoman Jama Jarrett says 53-year-old Charles Dixon of Fayette County was killed at about 7 a.m. Tuesday morning at Newtown Energy's Eagle Mine in Boone County. He had 25 years mining experien with six being at this mine in Comfort.
Two others, Daniel Ewing and Dave Morgan, were also injured in the accident and have been transported to a hospital -- one with facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries.
Jarrett says the accident involved a hoist car.
"Instead of elevator shafts, some mines, such as this one, have slope entrances and use cars to transport workers. These cars run on tracks and are operated by a hoist system," said Jarrett.
A news release from the mine states, "Dixon, affectionately called "Big Charlie" by his co-workers, was killed in a hoisting accident at Newtown Energy, Inc.'s, Eagle No. 1 Mine near Winifrede, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Mr. Dixon, a Fayette County man, was an experienced and trained miner, and worked as a trackman since 2003 at Newtown Energy, Inc. Mr. Dixon was 53 years old and first obtained his miner's card in 1981."
The mine employs about 220 people and produces about 1 million tons of coal a year.
"We are deeply saddened by this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Dixon's family right now", said Bob Ellis, Newtown Energy, Inc.'s President.
Ellis says this was the first fatality at a Newtown Energy Inc. mine.
According to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's Web site, Tuesday's fatality would be the nation's 14th coal mining death this year.
Source
Agency spokeswoman Jama Jarrett says 53-year-old Charles Dixon of Fayette County was killed at about 7 a.m. Tuesday morning at Newtown Energy's Eagle Mine in Boone County. He had 25 years mining experien with six being at this mine in Comfort.
Two others, Daniel Ewing and Dave Morgan, were also injured in the accident and have been transported to a hospital -- one with facial injuries and the other with minor head injuries.
Jarrett says the accident involved a hoist car.
"Instead of elevator shafts, some mines, such as this one, have slope entrances and use cars to transport workers. These cars run on tracks and are operated by a hoist system," said Jarrett.
A news release from the mine states, "Dixon, affectionately called "Big Charlie" by his co-workers, was killed in a hoisting accident at Newtown Energy, Inc.'s, Eagle No. 1 Mine near Winifrede, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Mr. Dixon, a Fayette County man, was an experienced and trained miner, and worked as a trackman since 2003 at Newtown Energy, Inc. Mr. Dixon was 53 years old and first obtained his miner's card in 1981."
The mine employs about 220 people and produces about 1 million tons of coal a year.
"We are deeply saddened by this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Dixon's family right now", said Bob Ellis, Newtown Energy, Inc.'s President.
Ellis says this was the first fatality at a Newtown Energy Inc. mine.
According to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's Web site, Tuesday's fatality would be the nation's 14th coal mining death this year.
Source
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Austell woman killed in Virginia wreck
A 69-year-old Austell woman was killed Tuesday afternoon in a three-car accident in Virgina, according to police.Virginia Bolton was killed in Henry County, Va., a rural county outside of Martinsville, according to Sgt. Robert Carpentieri with Virginia State Police. Bolton was the passenger in a 1994 Ford Taurus driven by Virginia Loggins of Stuart, Va.The Taurus collided with a Chevrolet pickup shortly before 3 p.m. Loggins was cited with failure to yield, according to police. Another vehicle, a 2003 Mitsubishi, was also involved in the accident.
Bolton was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
All three drivers were treated for injuries at a local hospital.
Source
Bolton was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
All three drivers were treated for injuries at a local hospital.
Source
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Texting Increases Risk Of Auto Accidents
According to a report released on Tuesday, text messaging while driving increases the risk of an auto accident even more than talking on a cell phone while driving.
The study, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), found that texting while driving increased the risk of an accident by more than 23 times.
"Text messaging on a cell phone was associated with the highest risk of all cell phone related tasks," says the VTTI. "The tasks that draw the driver's eyes away from the forward roadway were those with the highest risk."
The VTTI also found that text messaging leads drivers eyes to be off the road an average of 4.6 seconds over a six-second interval.
"This equates to a driver traveling the length of a football field (100 yards) at 55 miles per hour without looking at the roadway," the study said.
"Talking/listening to a cell phone allowed drivers to maintain eyes on the road and were not associated with an increased safety risk to nearly the same degree," it said.
According to the study, the risk of a crash, or near crash, for a driver in a light car while dialing on a cell phone was 2.8 times higher than a normal non-distracted driver.
The chance of an auto-accident was 1.3 times higher when talking on a cell phone, and 1.4 times higher when reaching for an object in the vehicle.
The risk of an accident in heavy vehicles was 5.9 times higher when dialing a phone, 6.7 times higher when reaching for something, but only 1.0 times higher when talking on a cell phone.
Accident risk was 23.2 times higher for truck drivers when texting.
To gather data for the report, the VTTI used cameras and instrumentation to observe truck drivers, and light vehicle drivers over more than six million miles.
"These results show conclusively that a real key to significantly improving safety is keeping your eyes on the road," the VTTI said in the report.
The study is also requesting that text messaging be banned in moving vehicles for drivers.
Currently, texting while driving is banned in 14 US states.
According to information reported by The New York Times, the federal agency commissioned to keep roadways safe concealed research seven years ago that explained the dangers of using cell phones while driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did so because it feared the study would anger members of Congress.
The study, conducted by the NHTSA in 2002, found that 955 people were killed during 240,000 traffic accidents caused by driving and using a cell phone.
Source
The study, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), found that texting while driving increased the risk of an accident by more than 23 times.
"Text messaging on a cell phone was associated with the highest risk of all cell phone related tasks," says the VTTI. "The tasks that draw the driver's eyes away from the forward roadway were those with the highest risk."
The VTTI also found that text messaging leads drivers eyes to be off the road an average of 4.6 seconds over a six-second interval.
"This equates to a driver traveling the length of a football field (100 yards) at 55 miles per hour without looking at the roadway," the study said.
"Talking/listening to a cell phone allowed drivers to maintain eyes on the road and were not associated with an increased safety risk to nearly the same degree," it said.
According to the study, the risk of a crash, or near crash, for a driver in a light car while dialing on a cell phone was 2.8 times higher than a normal non-distracted driver.
The chance of an auto-accident was 1.3 times higher when talking on a cell phone, and 1.4 times higher when reaching for an object in the vehicle.
The risk of an accident in heavy vehicles was 5.9 times higher when dialing a phone, 6.7 times higher when reaching for something, but only 1.0 times higher when talking on a cell phone.
Accident risk was 23.2 times higher for truck drivers when texting.
To gather data for the report, the VTTI used cameras and instrumentation to observe truck drivers, and light vehicle drivers over more than six million miles.
"These results show conclusively that a real key to significantly improving safety is keeping your eyes on the road," the VTTI said in the report.
The study is also requesting that text messaging be banned in moving vehicles for drivers.
Currently, texting while driving is banned in 14 US states.
According to information reported by The New York Times, the federal agency commissioned to keep roadways safe concealed research seven years ago that explained the dangers of using cell phones while driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did so because it feared the study would anger members of Congress.
The study, conducted by the NHTSA in 2002, found that 955 people were killed during 240,000 traffic accidents caused by driving and using a cell phone.
Source
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