BIKER DEATH PLUNGE
W’BURG HORROR CRASH
By JOE McGURK and TOM LIDDYTRAGEDY: The biker was flipped over the guardrail (above) into the East River after hitting a car.
May 5, 2006 -- A 38-year-old Queens man riding his motorcycle to Manhattan last night was killed when he rear-ended a livery cab on the Williamsburg Bridge - and flew over the guardrail into the East River, authorities said.The victim, Leonard Beckett, was married with five daughters, ranging in age from 11 to 16, a grieving relative said. He and his wife, Veronica, also cared for six foster kids.
The freak accident happened at 10:15 p.m. as Beckett, who lived in St. Albans, was driving in the outer lane about one third of the way across the span.
When he hit the car, he was ejected from his seat, smashed into the rear window of the cab and ricocheted over the waist-high barrier on the bridge, according to authorities.
Harbor cops found his body floating off the Brooklyn shore about 45 minutes later.
― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 5 May 2006 15:05 (nineteen years ago)
Related Video
Hope after horrific accident (01:33)Related Articles
Man loses limbs in workplace accidentApr 18, 2006 A New Plymouth man who lost two legs and arm in a horrifying industrial accident says he hopes to walk again.
The accident happened when Chris Fromont became trapped in an industrial waste shredder seven weeks ago. Doctors feared he may not pull through after they had to amputate both his legs and an arm to free him from the shredder.
"Straight afterwards I was in a fair bit of pain, I've obviously been in six operations. So it's been quite painful but I've come right now."
Despite his injuries, Fromont remains optimistic about his prospects. He is still in hospital seven weeks after the accident, and believes the future is already looking brighter.
"I'm hoping to be more independent as much as I can and do a lot more walking."
His wife Anne shares his hopes for the future.
"When Chris gets his independence I'm looking forward to going back to work and like he said doing what we plan to do."
But while he has high hopes for his own future, Fromont says he wants a lesson to be learned from his accident. He says he does not want anyone else to suffer what he has gone through.
"I'm concerned that anywhere in New Zealand this sort of thing might happen. It's important that people realise...it's a safety thing and I just don't want this to happen again to anyone."
Health and safety officials are checking all similar shredders throughout the country and a full report is due at the end of next month.
The shredder at New Plymouth's refuse transfer station was operated by Manawatu Waste.
Manawatu Waste has confirmed that the industrial shredder has been shut down saying it would be reckless to operate it until it has been established exactly what went wrong and why
― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 5 May 2006 15:12 (nineteen years ago)
Published: Friday, May 5, 2006 - 6:00 am
By Nan LundeenSTAFF WRITER
A 21-year-old Easley man charged with killing his grandmother shot himself in the head and died at the scene near Interstate 85 on Thursday, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
The U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force was observing the suspect, Corey Mitchell Patterson of 108 Rosemary Lane, in a car in the vicinity of I-85 and State 290, said Allan Wood, sergeant of violent crimes for the Sheriff's Office.
As officers waited for assistance to apprehend him, he drove north on I-85, Wood said. The officers tried to initiate a traffic stop, and Patterson fled in the car, Wood said.
At the Buds Drive exit just before State 110, Patterson's car slid out of control and ran off the side into a wood line, Wood said. Patterson got out of the car and shot himself in the head with a handgun, Wood said. He said Patterson died at the scene.
Marshals had been attempting to serve Patterson with a warrant issued in Greenville County in the death of his grandmother, Bertha Mae Futrell, whose body was found in April at 26 Big Foot Drive, Marietta.
― tehresa (tehresa), Friday, 5 May 2006 15:17 (nineteen years ago)
Chief medical officer Andy Whittemore said Wednesday the hospital is reviewing all factors that may have contributed to the death last month of Ann Marie Simonelli, including the staple gun.
"In the meantime, there are few words available to define our sorrow," Whittemore said in a statement.
Simonelli, 38, died at the hospital October 23, two days after trying to combat obesity by having her stomach stapled in a laparoscopic procedure, which involves a small incision and a scope that lets the surgeon look inside. The procedure differs from open gastric bypass, which requires a large incision.
Hospital spokesman Vincent Petrini said laparoscopic procedures would be halted during the review. The misfiring equipment was reported to the Food and Drug Administration, Petrini said.
Dr. David Lautz, who performed the operation, has not been disciplined. He did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.
Brigham and Women's performs 100 to 200 gastric bypass surgeries a year, according to the state.
― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 5 May 2006 15:34 (nineteen years ago)
By MARK LAW, Staff writer
STEUBENVILLE — City Police are investigating the death of a city man who died after being punched in the face Sunday evening.
City Police arrested Anthony Sutton, 45, of 325 S. Fifth St. on a charge of reckless homicide after he allegedly punched a city man in the face Sunday evening.
City Police Chief William McCafferty said John Busby, 53, of 643 South St. was found dead in his girlfriend’s apartment at 180 N. Fourth St. around 7:30 a.m. Monday. McCafferty said a security camera at the Fort Steuben Apartments showed Sutton punched Busby once in the face shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday. The chief said Busby fell to the ground on his face. Busby got up but appeared unsteady on his feet and entered the apartment building, McCafferty said. City Police detectives found blood on Busby’s face, on the bedding and in the bathroom of the apartment.
― TOMBOT (TOMBOT), Friday, 5 May 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)