The plane crash occurred shortly after Judge's takeoff from the Oceanside Municipal Airport. Individuals near the airport when the plane took off reported hearing something not quite right with the engine just before the crash. The plane appeared to just barely make it over the tops of some trees before circling lazily and heading towards the ravine.
]]> The plane was far from an experimental craft, a number of which have been involved in recent plane crashes, and Judge was an experienced pilot by any standard. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration arrived shortly after the plane crash, which left the front end of the plane almost completely destroyed.There have been no reports yet as to what may have caused the accident. The plane was a twin-engine Beechcraft 95-855 Judge co-owned with his wife Lorraine.
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The biggest tragedy, as with most dog attacks, is the ease with which the mauling may have been prevented.
The dog believed to have instigated the attack, bearing the deceptively gentle name "Kiwi," had already killed another pet - the family's Chihuahua - just before Hayashi's grandchildren moved in with him. Still, the dog was not reported or put down, though Hayashi acknowledged that he did not trust the animal around the young children.
]]> Even before that, though, Hayashi likely made a mistake by not having his first Pit Bull, "Sadie," spayed. She was pregnant when he got her from an animal shelter, bearing two puppies shortly after he brought her home. However, even after that, he let the issue sit. When she became pregnant again, two more Pit Bulls were added to the household.Pit Bulls are larger, athletic dogs and require plenty of attention and exercise. Keeping three of them in a garage and attempting to keep five in a city home seems a quick way to produce restless and agitated dogs.
Plus, dogs that have not been neutered or spayed tend to be more aggressive. Especially with Pit Bulls, this is a necessary procedure for someone who is not planning on breeding the animal.
Hayashi could potentially face charges of child endangerment and possessing a mischievous animal that causes death.
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]]>The fatal accident occurred around 2:00 a.m. when the bus driver struck an SUV that had overturned in the road ahead, blocking traffic. The bus slid into the concrete center divider and hit another vehicle before launching off the right side of the road, falling 15 feet before smashing into a tree located near an off-ramp, the front end smashed to smithereens.
Thus far, authorities have found no sign of alcohol or driver impairment.
Of those injured in the crash, one Greyhound passenger remains in critical condition and several suffered severe injuries, such as crushed bones and collapsed lungs. This is the first California Greyhound bus accident in several years with any fatalities, though Greyhound buses have been involved in 14 accidents over the past two-and-a-half years.
Across the country, Greyhound buses have been involved in more than 120 accidents over the past 24 months.
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]]>The fatal accident on June 12 was also Serratos' third DUI behind the wheel, having previously been charged twice for drunk driving and once for drunk boating. Serratos was also convicted of pulling a BB gun on a strip club employee in 2006, and for almost cutting a man's ear off in a bar fight in 1999.
Even with his violent background, his multiple DUIs and now the death of 18-year-old Destanee Little - even with all of these things at Benjamin Serratos' feet, his attorney and family members are arguing for bail to be lowered to an amount that would see him released.
]]> Understandably, the family of Destanee Little is slightly adverse to this request.On the night of the accident, drunk and speeding, Serratos had attempted to pass Little's car, but instead rear-ended her. The force sent her car into a light pole. Instead of calling for help, or attempting to assist the two injured girls, Serratos attempted to stumble away from the accident.
When police caught him, he blew a blood alcohol content reading of .21. This is more than three times the legal limit in California.
Drunk drivers are involved in thousands of car accidents every year. A good deal of these are fatal accidents, though rarely for the drunk driver.
San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Franklin Stephenson has not yet given an opinion on Serratos' request, but has agreed to consider it at a hearing next week.
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DeWeese was one of 13 people aboard the boat when it was struck. Minor to severe injuries were suffered by five others. Though crew members aboard the Coast Guard vessel denied negligence and traveling at unsafe speeds, eyewitness accounts and general boater opinion contradicted their claims.
On July 1, four members of the Coast Guard crew involved in the fatal accident were charged with a number of offenses, including negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter. Preliminary hearings are set to take place in a matter of weeks.
]]> The charges vary by crew member, and each individual's responsibility for the safety of both the boat and others in the water. The driver of the boat could face nearly 20 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Another crew member could face up to three months in prison for failing to serve as a lookout.Investigators found that the Coast Guard boat was traveling too fast and was not employing proper safety precautions, an oversight even more egregious for the fact that it was the Parade of Lights. The annual festival usually attracts around 80,000 spectators and includes about 80 boats, not including spectator boats.
In total, there were likely more than one hundred boats on the water that night.
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The traumatic brain injury inside the young athlete's head was shocking to doctors.
In fact, Henry is the youngest player ever to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a particular sort of degenerative disease caused exhibited by individuals who have suffered repeated concussions and other head injuries.
]]> There have been several high-profile instances of former NFL players, later found to have CTE, who have either passed away or committed suicide. The disease can affect mood, memory and temper. It can give sufferers intense headaches that intensify with exposure to light. Some become confused and depressed after suffering wild mood swings.Still, few active players are adequately informed when it comes to the danger of CTE and its potential affects. Some have cast doubt on the NFL's dedication to pursuing a solution to something that would surely take away from the brutal intensity of the game.
Still, NFL executives are taking steps to better protect players and better understand the effects of head and brain injuries. In June, the NFL held a joint conference with John Hopkins University that focused on traumatic brain injuries.
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]]>On Monday, Becky Marie Anderson was sentenced to 16 years in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence and causing an injury, and illegally being under the influence of a controlled substance.
A lesser penalty than the prosecution had originally sought; the 16-year prison sentence was a term of Anderson's plea agreement. For the family of the victim, it was not nearly enough. Bedard was only 36-years-old when she died, leaving behind a teenage son and daughter.
]]> The morning of the accident, Anderson was administered methadone at an Escondido clinic. The previous night, she had taken Valium. On the day of the accident, she claimed to have been reaching for a piece of paper when she lost control of her car, driving onto the sidewalk and causing the fatal car accident.Anderson also had two prior DUI convictions, going back 10 years when she still lived in Minnesota.
The case was a stark reminder of the dangers posed by repeat DUI offenders and the need to strictly regulate their ability to pose a threat to the public.
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The most encouraged and likely most ignored safety precaution, a life jacket is essential if you are planning to be out on the water over the fourth. In the case of a boating accident, this easy-to-implement precaution could save your life.
If you will be bringing young children along, especially ones who may not be good swimmers, you need to make sure that there are life jackets available for them.
Pushing your watercraft to the brink of capacity is probably not a good idea, but going over capacity is definitely a bad one. Overcrowded boats can make it hard for the driver to see. In the event of a boat accident, there may not be enough space for each passenger to place themselves in a safe area of the boat.
]]> Drinking and BoatingClear water and a cold beer may sound inviting, but drinking and boating is one of the most dangerous activities one can take part in. Impaired response time and slowed motor skills can be hazardous if you fall into the water.
For boat drivers, drinking before taking the craft out or while driving is as unadvisable on the water as it is on the road. Doing so puts you, your passengers and others in danger.
Lastly, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and what is going on in the water around you. Even if you do everything else perfectly, inattentiveness can ruin your day faster than any of them.
So, happy Fourth of July and stay safe!
]]>Just past midnight, College Area residents were jarred awake by a series of loud crashes. Outside, the rental truck driver had lost control of his vehicle and careened into a Mitsubishi Montero, shattering glass and knocking off a taillight. Swerving onto the sidewalk, the driver next rammed into a palm tree and concrete pylon before striking a local Greek restaurant.
Of all the damaged property, the restaurant likely suffered the most, losing a window, part of the front of the building and some of the roof. Still moving, the rental truck smashed through several more trees and into the Progress Management building, again taking out windows and chunks of the building.
]]> Finally, the truck rolled to a stop, mere feet from a row of gas meters. Had it hit those meters, and they had exploded, the damage would have been much worse. While the truck accident caused a great deal of property damage, at least no lives were lost.The truck's driver attempted to escape immediately following the accident, but was quickly apprehended by police officers and taken into custody. No name has been released yet and blood alcohol tests are pending.
The importance of being in control, and at full mental capacity, when you decide to get behind the wheel goes without saying. When the vehicle is larger, such as a rental truck, the damage done in an accident is often much greater and the risk to those around you much higher.
Had it occurred later in the day, this truck accident might have been much worse indeed.
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Witnesses described the car crash as a sudden explosion. Sleepers were jarred awake and those who were already up rushed outside to see what had happened. What they saw, was a smashed police car, severely damaged GMC pickup truck and number of other vehicles with minor to major damage caused by the out-of-control truck and flying debris.
The truck's driver, Robert Jose O'Connell, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle, suffering a traumatic head injury. Doctors are currently keeping O'Connell in a medically-induced coma to prevent further brain damage.
Both police officers were bruised and sore, but escaped the accident without major injury.
]]> O'Connell was actually fleeing from the very same squad car at the time of the accident. The two officers involved he struck had spotted the GMC truck going the wrong way on a one-way street and attempted to pull the driver over. However, O'Connell sped off, leading them on a chase until they lost the vehicle.They were driving slowly, attempting to relocate O'Connell when he sped through the stop sign near Orange Avenue and struck the squad car. Despite the severity of his injuries, O'Connell is expected to recover.
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Doctor Joseph Nguyen, who has been monitoring Cheng's condition, recently noted increased alertness, responsiveness and some directed movement. Much of Cheng's improvement has been credited to a cutting edge treatment plan that mixes approved drugs, electrical stimulation and nutraceuticals, or food that has medical benefits.
Dr. Defina, chief scientific officer and founder of the International Brain Research Foundation, along with Dr. Jonathan Fellus, of the Kessler Institute, began treating Cheng after being contacted Gina Blackmore, founder of the site One Love for Chi. Since the accident, the site has served as both a source for updates on Cheng's condition and a way for fans to donate money.
]]> Blackmore is currently trying to raise several hundred thousand dollars to ensure Chi continues to receive the cutting edge treatment he has been receiving.Over the past few years, 84 percent of patients receiving the treatment developed by DeFina and his colleagues have woken from vegetative or semi-conscious states. Traditionally, the average rate of recovery lands between three and seven percent.
Cheng is famous as the original bassist for the critically-lauded metal group Deftones. The band formed in the late 1980's in Sacramento, California and gained national attention in 1995 with the release of their debut album, Adrenaline.
Since then, the Deftones have toured the world and sold millions of albums.
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The car Tiffany St. Ives was driving carried Marlene 300 feet, the length of a football field, before St. Ives stopped to let her slide off the hood. Once Marlene's broken body had disappeared from the windshield, St. Ives sped off, leaving the teenager to die in the road.
From that day, until the day she was arrested, St. Ives did everything she could to destroy evidence of the hit-and-run. She had the car repainted, fixed and attempted to find someone who would get rid of it for her in Mexico. The man she approached for this eventually turned her in.
St. Ives was semi-famous in the San Diego area for her animal rescue farm, Purple Cow & Friends. Many who attended the trial could not understand how someone who cared so much for animals could show such disregard for human life.
]]> Yesterday, St. Ives was sentenced to one year in jail and probation for her part in the fatal accident that took Marlene Resendiz's life. Counting the time that St. Ives has already spent in custody, she could be out of jail in three months.It seems a small price to pay given the fact that St. Ives left the scene of the accident and engaged in extreme measures to hide her involvement. Still, Vista Superior Court Judge Dan Goldstein ruled that the accident had not been her fault and that leaving Marlene to die in the street did not warrant prison.
Even with the seemingly light sentence, St. Ives may not be in the clear yet. More than 100 animals from Purple Cow & Friends were relocated to another animal sanctuary. Additionally, the Marlene's mother has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against St. Ives, seeking $25 million.
Mrs. Resendiz has also accused St. Ives of being under the influence at the time of the fatal accident, though there has been no evidence to support this.
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Still, even the best laid plans cannot prevent all accidents, as was proved by the fatal accident involving a bicyclist in Oceanside on Friday night.
Just before midnight on Friday, 21-year-old Angel Escobedo attempted to cross several lanes of traffic on North River Road. Authorities believe that Escobedo turned into oncoming traffic, advertently or inadvertently, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. After the car accident, Escobedo was rushed to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, where he failed to recover and was declared brain dead early on Saturday morning.
]]> It is very important for bicycle rider and motorists, whether it is a holiday weekend or not, to be aware and alert on the road. The driver has not been charged in this case and, for now, that option does not really seem to be in play.While most car accidents involving bicycles in San Diego seem to revolve around driver negligence, there are plenty of steps bikers can take to conduct themselves in a safe manner.
If anything, this tragedy should prompt both bicycle riders and motorists to take a closer look at how they are conducting themselves and, hopefully, make changes for the better.
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While concussions are nothing new, the injuries suffered by soldiers serving overseas are unique. Thousands suffer from concussions in the United States every year. Most concussions are instigated by a blow to the head, such as those received in football games.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, most concussions are caused by explosions - more specifically, the explosion's blast wave.
Put simply, a blast wave is characterized by a large displacement of energy within a small area. Roadside bombs and homemade explosives, common in both countries, are the main cause for these blast wave brain injuries among soldiers.
]]> As medical researchers are discovering, these concussions and brain injuries are both unique to soldiers and far more damaging than those caused by a blow to the head.This blast-induced neurotrama, as it is known to scientists, causes more extensive damage to the brain and a longer duration of brain cell inflammation. It the worst cases, blood vessels in the brain can spasm, cutting off oxygen to the victim's brain and increasing the risk of severe brain damage.
Scientists in the United States are working hard to understand the how and why of blast wave concussions. In the future, better protective gear and better helmets could help diffuse the effects of blast wave brain injuries and concussions.
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]]>Gunnar Sandberg, a 16-year-old pitcher at Marin Catholic High School, was critically injured after being hit by a line drive in March. He spent three weeks in a coma with a life-threatening brain injury and required surgery to remove part of his skull to relive pressure on his brain.
Remarkably, he has made great strides since the injury, recently making an appearance on the mound at Oakland Coliseum to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of a game between the A's and the Giants.
The incident has reignited a debate about the use of aluminum or composite baseball bats that has been going on for more than a decade. Proponents of the ban on aluminum bats point to incidents like Gunnar Sandberg's ordeal to argue that the bats make an already dangerous activity, more dangerous.
]]> Baseball bats made with aluminum or other composite materials generally help hitters produce more speed and power in a couple of ways. Aluminum bats are generally lighter than wooden bats, and consequently, allow a hitter to swing the bat faster and produce more power. Aluminum bats also compress slightly when making contact with a baseball and then spring the ball off the bat. This so called "trampoline effect" can make a baseball travel much faster than it would off a wooden bat.Opponents of the proposed ban counter saying that wooden baseball bats are also dangerous and can produce the same sort of line drives that would injure pitchers.
If the ban were to pass the legislature, it would ban the use of "nonwooden" bats through 2011. In 2012, the legislature would have to extend the ban or let it lapse. In the meantime, the plan is to conduct further research on the matter to determine if aluminum bats really are unreasonably dangerous to high school athletes.
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