Updated: Houston Metro Train Kills Female Bicyclist

Vivian Ziwei Guan
Photo via Rice University

July 22, 2013 - by Tom Mannis - A southbound Metro light rail train struck and killed Vivian Ziwei Guan, a 20-year-old Rice University architecture student. She was hit by the train at the intersection of Main and Walker during the busy morning rush in downtown Houston. The accident happened around 8:08 a.m. while commuters were waiting on the platform to board the Fannin South train. The woman was dead by the time first responders arrived a few minutes after the accident.

UPDATE: Memorial for Vivian Ziwei Guan held on Friday, July 26 (Houston Press).

I was at that intersection when the accident happened. While standing on the northeast corner of Main and Walker, I heard a loud crunching sound, like metal on metal, that quickly turned into a grinding sound. It was a sickening sound. I turned to see what was happening and saw what appeared to be a mangled bicycle being dragged through the narrow space between the train and the boarding platform.

Metro train killed a cyclist, Houston

(Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)

Passengers on the platform were horrified by what they had just witnessed. One man, in business attire, was so shocked by the horrific accident that he held his head with both hands and repeatedly shouted "Shit, shit!" as he walked away from the scene.

Curiously, the Houston Chronicle reports that "witnesses said they saw the woman riding down the middle of the tracks before the collision. They started screaming at her to get out of the way." 

However, I did not hear anybody screaming before I heard the train hit the bike. If the Chronicle's report is true, it begs the question as to why the train's driver did not see the woman and stop.

This is not the first time that a Metro train has struck and killed someone. Many Houstonians called the Metro the "danger train." In 2008 another female bicyclist was hit the Texas Medical Center. She suffered an injured knee and minor cuts.

A report on February 12, 2008 said that "A passenger on the light rail train that struck and injured a bicyclist....says the operator did not sound a horn or apply the brakes before the collision." That sounds a lot like what I heard and saw this morning at Walker and Main. No horn. No sound of brakes before the collision.

The tragedy on July 22 was not the first, and probablyl won't be the last on Houston's Metro lines. For more about how treacherous the system is, watch the video "Destroyed In Seconds Houston Metro Rail."

VIDEO: Russian Rocket Crashes Seconds After Takeoff

Russian Proton-M Rocket Crash, 2 July 2013

July 2, 2013 - "An unmanned Russian space rocket has crashed to earth just seconds after launch," reports Russia Today (RT). The rocket launched at 6.38 am (0238 GMT) and "was carrying three satellites meant for Russia's Glonass global navigation system."

Russian Rocket Crash Videos: In the first video below, RT gives a report in English. The second video below is in Russian but shows the entire launch-to-crash more fully. The third video shows another viewpoint as a busload of photographers scramble when they realize that they might be in danger from the falling rocket.

The launch took place at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhastan. The rocket had more than 600 tons of highly toxic fuel. The crash happened only 10 to 15 seconds after liftoff. "It was the second unsuccessful launch of a Proton-M carrier rocket with the DM-03 booster in the past three years," says The Moscow Times. A report this morning at RT's website says that "Immediately after takeoff, the rocket swerved to one side, tried to correct itself, but instead veered in the opposite direction. It then flew horizontally and started to come apart with its engines in full thrust. Making a huge arch in the air, the rocket plummeted back to earth and exploded on impact close to another launch pad used for Proton commercial launches.

There are "fears of a possible toxic fuel leak" just now, but RT reports that "no such leak has been confirmed." No casualties or damage to the nearby town of Baikonur were reported. However, an AFP report at Hurriyet Daily News says that "A Roskosmos spokesman could not immediately say whether people living near the crash site were being evacuated."  Story continues below videos:







"Russia lost three Glonass satellites in December 2010 when a Proton-M veered off course and crashed in the Pacific Ocean," reports The Moscow Times today. "The rocket was also equipped with a DM-3 booster, designed and manufactured by the Energia space corporation. A state investigation commission later concluded that Energia experts miscalculated how much fuel was needed for the DM-3 rocket booster. As a result, the amount of oxidant exceeded the norm by 1-1.5 tons and excessive weight prevented the Proton-M rocket from putting the satellites into their calculated orbit."

On Camera: Deadly Fireworks Factory Explosion In Quebec

Viral Report YouTube Channel

June 21, 2013 - Two women died in a massive explosion on Thursday at a fireworks factory in the town of Coteau-du-Lac, located in southwestern Quebec, Canada (map). The explosion was caught on camera, and you can see videos below.

The B.E.M. fireworks plant and warehouse were completely destroyed by the fire and resulting blast. The cause of the fire is still not known. Authorities are still trying to determine why the fire started at B.E.M., which employed about two dozen people and has been in Coteau-du-Lac since 1970. There were no sprinklers in the building.

Two bodies were found in the still-smoldering ruins, reports the Montreal Gazette. "The initial explosion occurred shortly before 9 a.m., followed by smaller blasts and an intense fire that burned for three hours. Nearby residents were forced from their homes and a portion of Highway 20 west of Montreal was closed for hours." The Gazette also reports that "Fire Chief Stéphane Massicotte said a total of 14 fire departments responded to the call from as far away as Pincourt. There were 150 firefighters on the scene." In a later report, the Gazette identified the two killed in the inferno as Francine Lacroix, a 47-year-old resident of Riviere-Beaudette, and Nicole Brisson, 58, of Les Coteaux. Both women were B.E.M. employees.

In the video below, the explosion begins at 0:37

Video Below: News report from SUN News

7th Update: Woman Pulled From Collapsed Philadelphia Building, Six Confirmed Dead

Building collapse in Philadelphia, 22 South 22nd Street
(WXRS-BG) Credit Mike Adams

June 5, 2013 - Updated 7:47 PM CDT - A vacant 4-story apartment building that was being demolished collapsed on 22nd and Market streets in downtown Philadelphia's Center City neighborhood. The structure partially fell onto adjacent structures, heavily damaging them.  

This story is developing.

Update, June 7, 3:00 AM CDT: The mayor's office identified those killed in the collapse as Anne Bryan, Roseline Conteh, Borbor Davis, Kimberly Finnegan, Juanita Harmin and Mary Simpson.

Update, June 5, 11:20 PM CDT: "About 40 minutes ago, a woman was found alive in the rubble," tweeted @PhillyInquirer, "She was found about 12 hours after the building collapsed. Firefighter who helped rescue her said: 'She was pretty well buried'." ABC News Philadelphia reports that rescuers pulled 61-year-old Myra Plekam of Kensington out of the wreckage. She was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital in critical condition. "The dramatic rescue came some 13 hours after the massive building collapse..."

Update, 10:10 PM CDT: ‏@NewsBreaker tweeted: "6 people confirmed dead, 1 man, and five women after building collapsed in Philadelphia." CNN reports same.

Update, 9:05 PM CDT: NBC10 reports rescuers found three more bodies in the rubble tonight but have not yet revealed their identities. That brings the injured total, including those killed, to 17.

Rescue crews are carefully searching through tons of dusty rubble for at least two, possibly three, people believe trapped at the scene [See Updated Information Above]. Dogs are being used in the rescue effort. "Dozens of firefighters and emergency personnel are at the scene," reports Fox News. "A total of 12 people were hospitalized at nearby trauma centers with minor injuries and listed in stable condition." Fox also reports that the collapse "involved a Salvation Army corner thrift store and a four-story building next door with a sandwich shop on the first floor."

At 1:11 PM CDT, KIII TV reported Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers told reporters that two people are still trapped. "We have located them and we're going to continue until we can get them out and we can get them to hospitals," Ayers said.

KIII's report says that 12 people were rescued earlier and hospitalized with minor injuries. "Another woman walked away from the scene with no major injuries after being trapped for more than two hours," which brings the total of people freed from the rubble to 13.

Philadelphia Police are calling the collapse an "industrial accident." Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are on their way to the scene. There were "no existing violations" at the building, a city building inspector said.

VIDEOS: BIG EXPLOSION AS CSX TRAIN DERAILS NEAR BALTIMORE, BLAST HEARD FOR MILES

pic.twitter.com/1Fyvm8WOSK
photo: @Megan_Comeau

May 28, 2013 - 2:30 PM ET -- A CSX freight train collided with a trash truck and derailed in Rosedale, MD near Baltimore at 2:02 PM ET today. The train had two locomotives and 45 cars.  There were no fatalities. The only person injured was the driver of the truck, who was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition. (CSX Corp info.)

UPDATE: The Baltimore Sun reports that the train was carrying unknown chemicals but the smoke did not include toxic inhalants. "Still, a 20-block area around the accident was evacuated." Baltimore County Fire Chief John J. Hohman said the fire is expected to burn through the night. The only two people aboard the train were not injured. Also, see an updated timeline of the CSX freight train derailment and explosion. 

"The driver of the trailer was extricated and taken to Maryland Shock Trauma center in serious but stable condition."

VIDEO: HOW IT HAPPENED...

Officials say several nearby buildings collapsed, reports WBAL. People felt the blast 22 miles away.Authorities evacuated the immediate area as a precaution. The derailment is in the area of E. Biddle and 66th streets in Rosedale, near the 7500 block of Lake Drive.

The affected buildings are right next to the track where the train derailed. Workers ran out to look at the crash, saw flames, and immediately got into their cars and drove three blocks away. Then came the explosion. "It about brought us to our knees," said one man.

Hazmat crews are on the scene. It is not clear what kinds of chemicals were in the freight cars involved in this accident. One police officer reported having trouble breathing.  However, live video shows personnel walking near the fire not wearing any kind of hazmat suits or breathing equipment.

"A huge explosion could be heard across the city, and a large tower of smoke can be seen from miles away," reports CBS Baltimore. "Police and fire crews are responding to the area after receiving numerous calls to 911. Details on this accident are still unfolding." NBC has live video of the derailed train in Baltimore County. More live coverage at  ABC7 WJLA and WBAL TV.

SEE VIDEOS OF THE ACTUAL EXPLOSION.

Watch Shark Aquarium Explode In Shanghai Shopping Mall

The Shanghai shopping mall aquarium in happier times.
Photo: Copyright © Achim Fischer, Creative Commons

Dec. 27, 2012 - Amazing videos (below) shows a 33.5 ton aquarium as is bursts in the front of a  pedestrian mall on Nanjing Road E. in Shanghai, China on Dec. 18. The animals in the tank included turtles, various fish and sharks. Sixteen people were hurt in the sudden explosion of acrylic, water and sea life. The aquarium explosion was captured by a closed circuit (CC) televsion camera. Shanghai officials believe the shattering was caused by air temperatures that made the aquarium's material "brittle" (details below first video, below).

"Three lemon sharks and dozens of turtles and small fish were killed in the incident," reports BBC News, and the "explosion destroyed a nearby cosmetics counter where one worker had to be pulled to safety."

"One male customer, in his 30s, was hit by [acrylic] and had broken bones in his leg. Others had cuts and bruises," reports Shanghai Daily.  "Three sharks raised inside the 7-meter-long, 3-meter-high aquarium, on the first floor of the Orient Shopping Center, died in the incident about 7:50pm." Shanghai Daily also noted that Mr. Chen, an official with the shopping center's management, said that the aquarium was made of acrylic that was about 15 centimeters thick. "We will not build an aquarium again in the future," said Chen.

IBTimes quotes Shen Weizhong, deputy director of the Shanghai Work Safety Administration as saying that, "According to the experts' preliminary determination, the major reason is a rupture of the aquarium [acrylic] under low temperatures after long usage," and that, "The 'brittle' temperature of the aquarium material is 9.2C. The outer side of the aquarium facing the street, especially the upper part above water, is very likely to rupture when the surrounding temperature is lower than 9.2C."

However, UV rays also may have contributed to the aquarium bursting. Shen Weizhong was quoted by Eastday.com as saying, "The wear was mainly caused by ultraviolet radiation and changing temperatures."



Next Video: A report in Chinese.


Next Video: The doomed Shanghai shopping mall aquarium in late 2011.


Related:

• Expat Views on Living and Working in Shanghai Enter Shanghai
• Survey ranks Shanghai second-safest city in China... after Lhasa Shanghaiist
• 19 Crazy Things That Only Happen In China Business Insider 
• Shanghai to enact strict new food safety law Xinhua/Yahoo
• Furnace fall in Baosteel kills 2, injures 13 China Daily
• Beijing Urges Child-Safety Push Wall Street Journal 
• Shanghai to be 2nd duty-free region People's Daily Online

UPDATED: Stunt Plane Crashes Into Ferris Wheel at Fairgrounds in New South Wales, Australia

NSW Incident Alerts posted a great photo (top) on Facebook, showing the plane stuck in the ferris wheel. NSW describe the photo: "A light stunt plane has crashed into a Ferris Wheel at the Old Bar Festival. The Pilot and Co-Pilot are in a serious condition, and emergency services are working to remove the wreckage from the wheel and rescue the people still on the ride. Photo submitted By Julieanne Brache." UPDATE: ABC (Australia) Reports that four people were rescued after a Cheetah S200 stunt plane crashed into the ferris wheel at the Old Bar Festival about 10:00am on Saturday, October 1 (NSW time). Rescued were two children, who dangled in basket atop the ferris wheel for about an hour, and the plane's pilot and his son. Nobody was killed or seriously injured. The Old Bar Beach Festival is at Taree, New South Wales (also see map). Another great photo of the plane-ferris wheel crash (right) comes from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. According to ABC, "Police say the plane crashed shortly after 10.00am (AEST) this morning at the Old Bar Festival at Taree. Local officers say two people are trapped in the plane with two children stuck on the ferris wheel. The plane is leaking aviation fuel and emergency services have been spraying the plane and wheel with foam." "The plane was taking off from the grass airstrip," says ABC, "and failed to get enough altitude to clear the ferris wheel, which was recently placed at the southern end of the strip for the local festival. Flyers from around the country have come to the area for the long weekend." Full story at ABC.net.au

Chicago Media Screwing Up on Dead Cop Story

Update, 2/24/2010: Funeral Details for Sgt. Alan Haymaker  

Update, 2/25/201: Man Charged in Burglary That "Killed" Sgt. Alan Haymaker

What kind of morons do the local media hire? Every one of the mainstream media - including Fox Chicago News - keep saying that Sgt. Alan Haymaker was killed when his car "slid off an exit ramp." That's wrong. 

Not only is that completely incorrect, the imbecile reporters actually show photos that contradict their own words. Fox Chicago News, for example.  

Sgt. Haymaker's car never got to the exit ramp

In what seems to be an otherwise good report on Tuesday night, the Fox anchor speaks over a picture of the crash scene, which clearly shows that the car went directly from Lake Shore Drive onto a grassy area where it crashed. 

Even as that is shown on screen, the anchor says that "his squad car slid off an exit ramp," but in the background you can see the ramp, which was obviously missed by the car. It wasn't even close to entering the ramp as my own report showed on Monday night.  

My own photos were posted Monday night and show that Sgt. Haymaker's car was never on the exit ramp (see more photos here). Why is it so difficult for the mainstream media to report such a basic fact of this story correctly?

Exclusive: Chicago Cop's Death on LSD Raises Big Questions

Update 2/24/2010: Funeral Details for Sgt. Alan Haymaker  

Update 2/23/2010: Who Really Killed Sgt. Alan Haymaker?  

Update, 2/25/2010: Man Charged in Burglary That "Killed" Sgt. Alan Haymaker  

R.I.P., Sgt. Alan Haymaker

Monday, February 22, 2010 - The tragic and untimely death of Sergeant Alan Haymaker just past 5:00 a.m. today has been blamed on "icy conditions," but that - and our exclusive photos below - raise more questions. Chicago News Bench visited the crash scene, and it left us wondering if CPD is telling the whole story of what really caused the accident.  

Note: Our photos, below, clearly show what the other media have not shown: That Sgt. Haymaker's car was never on the exit ramp, he did not attempt to take the exit ramp, and that he transitioned over the curb from Lake Shore Drive in a straight line with NO spin-out.  

In short, Sgt. Haymaker completely missed the well-lit, well-marked, easily visible Irving Park off ramp, and instead drove straight over the curb on Lake Shore Drive (LSD). He did not lose control on the ramp - in fact, he never entered the ramp. As he jumped the curb, his car continued in a straight line, knocking down a light pole and slamming to a stop when it hit a tree. It is not known whether Sgt. Haymaker was actually trying to take the Irving Park ramp - it seems very unlikely, however, because it was many blocks north of the burglary to which he was responding.  

Sgt. Haymaker was still well north of where he should have been getting off, which should have at Belmont to approach the burglary at 3167 N. Clark. Belmont is 3200 north. The Irving Park exit ramp, actually at Bittersweet and Marine, is 4100 north.  

The public "explanation" given so far by Chicago Police Department’s Major Accidents Unit is puzzling and insufficient in light of photographs (below) taken by Chicago News Bench on Monday afternoon.  

The photos we have seen elsewhere, like the one here by The Chicago Tribune, do not show the tire tracks of the car as they leave LSD, go over the curb, and straight toward a tree. Our photos show that. According to CPD, Sgt. Haymaker was driving south on Lake Shore Drive as he was en route to a report of a burglary scene at 3167 N. Clark Street, several blocks west and more than 10 blocks north of the Irving Park off ramp. Lake Shore Drive is well lit. While "icy conditions" were named as a reason for the accident, visibility was not mentioned. The stretch of LSD southbound lanes is long and flat in the approach to the Irving Park off ramp, so nothing should have been obstructing Sgt. Haymaker's view of the wide and well-marked off ramp.  

Our questions for the Chicago Police Department:

There is no mention in the reports visibility being a factor in the accident; what was the ground visibility at that location at that time?

Was Sgt. Haymaker attempting to enter the Irving Park exit ramp?

How fast is it estimated that Sgt. Haymaker's car was moving when it went over the curb?

Even if ice was a factor in the accident this morning, why did he steer his car off of Lake Shore Drive, over the curb, and into light post and tree, with NO sign of any spin out prior to leaving the pavement of LSD?

Was Sgt. Haymaker's blood tested for drugs and for alcohol?

Is CPD saying that Streets and Sanitation had not salted LSD and all off ramps by the beginning of the morning rush hour? Is CPD saying that a major road (LSD) was icy more than eight hours after the snow storm began?

Is it CPD's policy that officers drive at very high speeds to a burglarly at a retail address at 5:00 a.m., when there is no threat to life at the burglary scene?

The car seems to have spun after leaving LSD and before striking the light pole; had it continued straight it would probably have missed the pole as indicated by the tire tracks still clearly visible in the snow at 3:15 p.m. today. This indicates that the car may have fishtailed, most likely as Sgt. Haymaker tried to steer and/or brake on the slippery snow-covered grass of the median on which he suddenly found himself.  

Our photos below clearly show the path that Sgt. Haymaker's car took as it mysteriously went over the curb. There seems to have been no spin out prior to jumping the curb. We saw no skid marks on Lake Shore Drive anywhere near the accident scene.

		Click images to enlarge
		Photos by Tom Mannis

N. Side Chicago Woman Killed by Snow Plow

February 9, 2010 - Tragic accident in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood takes the life of a woman about one block from where she lived. An elderly woman, identified as Yuliya Polzikova, 71, was struck and killed this afternoon by a snow plow a short distance from her Rogers Park home, authorities said. The accident occurred at about 2:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of West Morse Avenue, Chicago police said.... According to police, Polzikova was walking on Morse when she was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado with an attached plow clearing a private parking lot. More at Reaction Radio... Ms. Polzikova resided in the 1200 block of West Morse Avenue. The Chicago Tribune reported that Ms. Polzikova "was rushed to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where she was pronounced dead a short time later, a medical examiner's spokesman said. The police Major Accident Investigation Unit was interviewing the plow driver. The unidentified driver was expected to receive citations related to the collision, police said." Also See: Woman, 71, fatally struck by snow plow in Rogers Park - Chicago Sun-Times Elderly Woman Struck and Killed by Snow Plow in Rogers Park - MyFoxChicago Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Update x4: Hit-Run Devon and Western Kills THREE

FINAL UPDATE: THREE DEAD: "Adams Oshana said he was in a nearby Dunkin' Donuts on Rosemont Avenue and Western when someone told him about the crash. He later identified his brother's body at the scene and walked away crying." (Source: Chicago Breaking News) NOTE: As of 2:21 a.m. Tuesday, only Chicago News Bench is reporting that three people are dead as a result of the Western-Devon crash. The two victims that were taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanstion died around midnight (see Update x2, below...) UPDATE x1: At 10:38 p.m. on Monday, May 4, a 911 call was made to Chicago emergency dispatch about a hit-and-run involving at least three pedestrians at N. Western and W. Devon. Based on a call from a Chicago News Bench reader, and on our own scanning of police frequencies, at least two victims were taken to St. Francis Hospital in nearby Evanston. It is believed, but unconfirmed by CNB, that there may have been a third victim, who died at the accident scene. (See final update at top of this post.) UPDATE x2: At 12:08 a.m. Tuesday, a CPD officer at St. Francis Hospital said on his radio that "both victims" at St. Francis Hospital were "just pronounced" (pronounced dead). As of midnight, the southbound lanes 6300 block of N. Western were still closed for the investigation. UPDATE x3: At 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, 05 May, police re-opened the closed southbound lanes of the 6300 block of N. Western Avenue as the major accident investigation comes to a close. We have not yet heard whether the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle has been caught, but it is believed that the accident may have been recorded on a nearby camera. CommieBama Hats and More Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Follow ChiNewsBench on Twitter

HIT-RUN KILLS THREE AT DEVON AND WESTERN

EXCLUSIVE - Updated 2:27 a.m., May 5: The hit-and-run accident at Devon and Western claimed three lives (Chicago Breaking News is saying two dead, one at the scene on at the hospital, but they didn't hear a CPD officer call out that "both victims pronounced" dead at 12:08 a.m.) A car struck three pedestrians just after 10:30 p.m. on Monday at the intersection of N. Western and W. Devon in Chicago. Two victims were taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where they were pronounced dead just after midnight. (Source: 24th District police frequency 460.375) A third victim died at the scene of the accident. ALSO SEE: Update x3: Car Hits Pedestrians, Runs From Devon and Western CommieBama Hats and More Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Follow ChiNewsBench on Twitter

Car Runs Into Devon-Morseview Drugs, Driver Injured

An elderly woman lost control of her car this afternoon and it slammed into Devon-Morseview Drugs at 1358 W. Devon in Chicago. The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. this afternoon. Police radio chatter said that the woman was injured and transported to Weiss Memorial Hospital. The street was blocked off for a time, but reopened around 2:35 p.m. There seems to have been no other injuries. Devon-Morseview Drugs is closed on Sundays. As of 2:30 p.m., police were attempting to contact the keyholder of the store. CNB RSS Feed

Joe Moore, Traffic Signal Whore

Car Crashes into Video Store at Jarvis Square in Rogers Park

Nobody was injured when a woman lost control of her car and drove it through the front window of Express Video today at 10:50 a.m.

The store, located at 7364 N. Greenview, is only two doors away from the office of Alderman Joe Moore. Moore's office is in the same strip mall known as Jarvis Square.

According to employees of the store, a 20 year old woman was in her car, parked directly in front of the store. The woman, Sharon V. Martinez, allegedly put the car in drive but thought she had it in reverse. The pumped the accelerator, and the car crashed through the window, continuing on through a wall video shelving. In all, four display units were destroyed.

The Illinois Motorist Report, issued by the Chicago Police as the "investigating agency," noted that no photo was taken, no statement was taken, and no fine issued to Ms. Martinez. Witnesses say that she was driven away in a police car. A tow truck came and removed the car from the store, and shortly thereafter Ms. Martinez was returned to the store by the police and allowed to drive the car away. The report noted that her driver's license is "expired." The car is registered to somebody other than Ms. Martinez.

Injury was narrowly avoided. One employee had been sitting just inside the window, behind a display unit, and went to the rest room. Moments after he went to the rest room, the car destroyed the place he'd been sitting seconds earlier. "My lucky day," he said.