News

General Motors:
2014 Recalls Affecting More Than 3 Million Vehicles

Over the last two months, General Motors (GM) has recalled more than 3 million vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The first batch of recalls, which began on February 13, involved 1.5 million vehicles affected by an ignition glitch that could cause the vehicle to shut off without warning. When this glitch causes the vehicles to shut off, it could also cut power to the airbags and other safety features, causing them not to deploy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating GM’s handling of this recall. The second batch of recalls began on March 17, and involved more than 1.6 million vehicles. This recall involves more than 1.6 million vehicles which may require one of three different types of repairs: instrument panel repairs, brake booster repairs, or seat-mounted airbag wiring repairs. Click here for details and a list of the affected vehicles.

PATCO Worker Injured

Investigators say the PATCO worker accidentally hit the third rail, which carries a high voltage that is needed for the commuter trains. The rail worker was seriously burned. The 40 year old man was rushed to a hospital and is in serious condition.

Man Injured In Hunting Accident

Daniel Ohar, age 60, was injured November 11, when he was trying to climb down from his tree stand. He attempted to step on a branch, which broke, and he fell 20 to 25 feet to the ground. Ohar called 911 and then assisted the rescuers in finding him. He was transported by Star Flight to ECMC and was treated for his injuries.

Oriskany Falls Man Dies in Hunting Accident

On November 18, 2009, State police identified the hunter found dead in Augusta as Terry Leunberger, 43. His body was found in the early afternoon near Route 26. Trooper Jack Keller states that “It looks as if he apparently fell from that tree stand while he was bow hunting.” The cause of death is still undetermined and an autopsy is being scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

Hunter Not Wearing Harness Falls To Death

Anthony Eddie Vana, 33, of Pace was hunting on November 21, 2009 with some friends in the Blackwater River State Forest. The two friends were taking part in the three-day muzzleloader deer season. Vana was not wearing the recommended safety gear. Stan Kirkland, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that Vana “apparently fell coming down the tree, or his stand collapsed as he was coming down the tree at about sundown.” The distance from where it appeared his stand collapsed was about 23 ½ feet. Vana was pronounced dead at the scene.

Accidental Death In Tree Stand

The Maryland Natural Resources Police reported that a Frederick man, Andre Strickland, 53, died of accidental hanging in a tree stand accident on the first day of the firearms deer hunting season. Rescuers found his body in Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County. Strickland had been reported overdue from his hunting trip. It appears that while descending the tree he became entangled in his safety harness.

New Hampshire Accident Caused By Safety Violations

October 31 marks the opening day of New Hampshire’s muzzleloader season for deer. On this day, Robert LaPointe, age 66, while in Ossippee shot himself in the hand. He was pulling the muzzleloader up into the tree when it got hung up on a branch, which pulled the trigger. The muzzleloader discharged, shooting LaPointe in the hand at close range. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro. Subsequently, he was transferred to the Maine Medical Center in Portland.

A few important things to remember when hunting with a loaded firearm: 

• Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.
• Never pull a gun toward you by the muzzle.
• Never climb a fence or tree or jump a ditch or log with a loaded gun.
• Never pull a loaded gun up into the tree stand.

Paralyzed Hunter Returns To Hunting

This will be the first time in fifteen years that Tammy Millikan won’t be able to go out for the opening day of hunting season. She was paralyzed when she fall from a tree stand in July. Millikan and her husband were at their cabin near Oscoda when this terrible accident occurred. She had spied some camouflage netting in an abandoned tree stand and decided to climb up and retrieve it. She was 20 feet above the ground when the last rung came off in her hands and she fell. The 20 foot fall broke her back. She was flown to St. Mary’s of Michigan Hospital in Saginaw.

However, this did not stop Tammy Millikan. She went out for the special handicap hunt in October. There, she was able to bag a spike horn deer. This was a big accomplishment for Millikan and helped to show her that there is still a light at the end of the tunnel.

 Federal Oversight of Metro in Question

Over the summer, there was a collision on the Red Line between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations, when two six-car trains crashed into each other, killing nine people, and injuring 90 others. There have also been a number of incidents where employees have been killed while on the job. For these reasons, numerous people, including the Obama administration, are now pushing for tougher federal safety standards to be adopted for transit systems. More than 700,000 trips are taken every day on the subway system, yet there is no federal law to oversee the safety standards.

These safety rules that Federal officials are seeking to enforce would be similar to the power already in place to oversee the airlines and Amtrak. Currently, they are unable to implement these safety standards because they are constrained by the law.

13 Year-Old Boy Shoots Himself In Hand

In central Indiana, a young boy shot himself in the hand while he was deer hunting on his family’s property. This occurred on Saturday, November 14. The boy was taken to Bloomington hospital for treatment. Conservation Officer Max Winchell stated that there is no age requirement or license requirement for those people who are hunting on their own land.

Blue Line Subway Train Kills Man

In Chicago, an unidentified man was killed by a CTA Blue Line subway train in the Loop Wednesday, October 28, 2009. Around 1:15 p.m. the man was hit by a southbound train at the Monroe station. Fire personnel pulled the victim’s body from the tracks, but he had already died. The southbound Blue Line service was shut down between the Grand and Racine  stops, which are on the path that includes the downtown stretch. However, the southbound lines were back up by 3 p.m. There were unconfirmed reports that the man had jumped in front of the train.

Injured Robinson Township Police Officer Saved By Cell Phone           

Sergeant Jim Felt went bow hunting alone in a dense area of woods near Station Road. He fell nearly 20 feet from his tree stand and was knocked unconscious. When Felt regained consciousness, he used his cell phone to call his wife. The Police Chief, Dale Vietmeier knew the general area in which Felt was hunting, but he no idea where he was at. Rescue crews arrived shortly after the call, but due to the area were unable to locate the injured hunter. Felt was found when an officer was able to see the glow of a cell phone from the police car search light. It took the firefighters nearly an hour to bring Felt down safely. Sgt. Felt had suffered from a broken neck, two broken ribs, and a concussion, but he is expected to make a full recovery.