'Great day at the range': Dem candidate Lucas Kunce leaves reporter gushing blood at outing with Adam Kinzinger



In an apparent effort to outdo Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's embarrassing hunting-themed photo op, Democratic Senate candidate Lucas Kunce attended a sport shooting campaign event Tuesday north of Kansas City with Harris booster Adam Kinzinger.

Unlike Walz, Kunce, a gun control advocate trying to unseat Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), actually hit something — or rather somebody: KSHB-TV reporter Ryan Gamboa.

According to the Kansas City Star, Kunce was firing a rifle at a private residence when a bullet fragment ricocheted off a steel target at close range and struck the reporter in the arm.

Upon realizing he left the fourth estate in need of first aid, Kunce wrapped his belt around Gamboa's arm to arrest the bleeding. KSHB indicated that its wounded reporter went to a nearby hospital for professional treatment and was later discharged.

'Will Kamala condemn the gun violence by Kunce and Kinzinger?'

Kunce attempted to make light of the incident, tweeting, "Great day at the range today with my friend @AdamKinzinger."

"We got to hang out with some union workers while exercising our freedom. Always have your first aid kit handy," continued Kunce. "Shrapnel can always fly when you hit a target like today, and you've got to be ready to go. We had four first aid kits, so we were able to take care of the situation, and I'm glad Ryan is okay and was able to continue reporting."

Criticism and mockery soon began pouring in.

Hawley, who The Hill indicated was leading Kunce by an average of 7.3% across 10 polls, noted, "When liberals play with guns, people get hurt."

The Republican senator asked in jest, "Will Kamala condemn the gun violence by Kunce and Kinzinger?"

Apparently unable to help himself, Hawley also wrote, "I know the Kunce campaign needed a shot in the arm, but this is taking it a little far," and "I condemn all acts of violence against reporters."

"It's been a really rough month for Dems trying to appear competent with firearms," wrote the National Association for Gun Rights.

After noting that "cosplay can be dangerous," Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt (R) shared a 2021 video of Kunce offering his services for a weapons safety course ahead of his last failed Senate run, writing, "This aged well."

Police analyst and Townhall columnist Phil Holloway had some questions: "Why did you put a tourniquet on a grazing flesh wound? Why are people wearing their eye protection on top of their head? Why are you firing .223 rounds at metal targets 20 feet away? Asking for a few million friends."

'Calm down, Dick Cheney.'

After dwelling on photos from the disastrous photo op, Sean Davis, co-founder of the Federalist, highlighted other issues Kunce and Kinzinger apparently failed to register:

  • "They are shooting steel at 5-7 yards with rifles, which could've killed somebody given the force with which the bullets will ricochet off the steel targets at [that] distance. You would instantly get permanently banned at my range if you did that. Zero questions asked."
  • "Kinzinger holds his rifle like a complete ninny, and that will never not be funny to me. And pro-tip for @AdamKinzinger: the eye protection works better when it's on your eyes, not your head. You stupid idiot. Try using your brain for once. You’re lucky you still have one after today."
  • "Kinzinger is for some reason using a high-powered scope (at least a 3-9x by the looks of it) to shoot a target 5 yards away."
  • "There is a bolt action rifle on the table, so presumably someone was also using that to shoot steel at 5 yards. Insane."
  • "There are at least two canisters of explosive Tannerite powder on the table, down range from where guns are being fired. That could've potentially killed or seriously injured someone if someone shot it or if someone was stupid enough to be shooting close enough to steel for a ricochet to hit it."
  • "At one point the cameraman is down range from all the guns, which — given the violations we’ve found so far — we can assume are not safe and unloaded. Way to think that one through, dummy."

Ryan Cleckner, a former special ops sniper, affirmed Davis' critiques, writing, "[Davis] told me 'it gets better the more you look at it.' He was so right."

"'Great day! We only shot one person!' Calm down, Dick Cheney," wrote one user.

Conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck noted, "Democrats need to stop cosplaying with guns because it's getting embarrassing."

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FBI investigating death of 12-year-old boy who fell from balcony of cruise ship



A 12-year-old boy has died after falling from the balcony of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas was on a seven-day cruise in the western Caribbean with stops in Honduras and Mexico.

'We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our guests.'

On Saturday, the ship was en route to Galveston, Texas.

On the last night of the cruise, a 12-year-old boy plummeted to his death after falling from a balcony.

According to People magazine, the boy fell from the ship's "Central Park" neighborhood — an open area in the ship's interior on the 8th deck — which includes bars, restaurants, shops, and more than 10,000 plants and flowers.

The FBI confirmed that it was investigating the incident, according to the Washington Post, noting that it's “the primary federal agency authorized to investigate potential crimes on the high seas,” and was coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection.

Royal Caribbean released a statement on the boy's death: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our guests. Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

The FBI and Royal Caribbean did not reveal the circumstances of how the boy fell from the balcony.

The Harmony of the Seas cruise ship docked in Galveston at 7 a.m. Sunday, according to cruise tracking site CruiseMapper.

In 2019, a 16-year-old boy fell to his death while attempting to climb into his room from the balcony of the Harmony of the Seas ship. The teen was on the eighth floor, according to the Broward Medical Examiner’s Office. The teen reportedly fell and landed on a pier after attempting to climb into his room from a nearby balcony because he forgot his room key.

Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act that was passed in 2010, railings on cruise ships must be at least 42 inches tall.

Harmony of the Seas was first launched in 2016 and has 18 decks and a maximum capacity of 6,687.

Between 1995 and 2024, there were 416 people who went overboard while on cruise ships, according to data compiled by cruise industry researcher Ross Klein.

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NHL superstar Johnny Gaudreau and brother killed by suspected drunk driver on eve of sister's wedding: 'Unimaginable tragedy'



NHL superstar Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed on Thursday night — a day before their sister's wedding.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were riding bicycles down a road in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.

'Both Matty and Johnny were terrifically admired by all of us. Wonderful young guys, and they impressed a lot of us off-ice.'

A Jeep Grand Cherokee attempted to pass a slower-moving sedan and an SUV while traveling north on County Route 551, police told WPVI.

The driver of the Grand Cherokee — 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown – fatally hit the Gaudreau brothers, Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron of the New Jersey State Police said in a statement on Friday.

The Gaudreau brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Higgins was charged with two counts of death by auto and is being held at the Salem County Correctional Facility.

Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the deadly accident, Lebron stated.

Citing the police affidavit, WPVI reported the state trooper who arrived at the scene detected a "strong odor of alcohol" on the driver. Higgins allegedly told the trooper he had consumed "five to six beers" before the fatal crash. The outlet reported that Higgins told investigators that his consumption of alcohol contributed to his impatience and reckless driving, according to the criminal complaint.

The trooper allegedly said Higgins failed a field sobriety test.

The Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed the sudden death of the NHL superstar with a statement that called the fatal crash an "unimaginable tragedy."

"The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy," the statement read. "Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

"Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice," the Blue Jackets said. "He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could."

"The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him," the statement continued. "Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago, and Columbus welcomed him with open arms."

The statement concluded, "We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy. At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve."

Johnny played two seasons with the Blue Jackets and nine seasons with the Calgary Flames.

The Calgary Flames said in a statement, "It’s with great sadness, we mourn the tragic deaths of our friend Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau. Our hearts are broken by this devastating loss. Johnny was and always will be a member of the Flames family and loved by all of Calgary."

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement, "The National Hockey League family is shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew."

"While Johnny’s infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,’ he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a doting father and beloved husband, son, brother, and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path," Bettman stated.

"Gaudreau often told the story of how his father taught him to skate as a child in his home state of New Jersey and he carried that same youthful passion throughout his 11 NHL seasons," Bettmen added. "A skilled playmaker, Gaudreau participated in the NHL All-Star Game seven times where he was always a fan favorite, particularly while showcasing his talents in the various skills competitions for which he was so well suited."

Both Gaudreau brothers were hockey teammates at Boston College before Johnny was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2011.

Jerry York — who coached the Gaudreau brothers at Boston College — told the Associated Press, "Just devastating news for all of us connected with the Gaudreau family. Both Matty and Johnny were terrifically admired by all of us. Wonderful young guys, and they impressed a lot of us off-ice."

Johnny scored 20-plus goals six times and was a 115-point player in the 2021-2022 season when he had a career-best 40 goals and 75 assists.

Matthew was also a professional hockey player who spent time in the AHL and ECHL.

Johnny Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Meredith Gaudreau, and their two young children, 1-year-old daughter, Noa, and 6-month-old son, Johnny Jr.

Johnny and Matthew had been set to attend the wedding of their sister, Katie Gaudreau. The wedding ceremony is scheduled for Friday afternoon in New Jersey and a reception in Philadelphia later that night.

The brothers were supposed to be groomsmen during the wedding ceremony, according to the bride-to-be's wedding page.

This is the second tragedy for the Blue Jackets in recent years.

Columbus goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died in July 2021 when the 24-year-old was struck in the chest by a firework while attending the wedding of the daughter of then-Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace in Novi, Michigan.

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New York man arrested by arson bomb squad for giving 11-year-old son fireworks that set houses on fire



A New York man was arrested by an arson bomb squad for giving his 11-year-old son a firework that set two houses on fire, according to authorities.

According to a press release from the Nassau County Police Department, officers responded around 8:50 a.m. on the 4th of July to reports of a house fire in Levittown, New York.

Police determined that a 33-year-old father gave his 11-year-old son a firework and instructed him to light it. The explosive allegedly malfunctioned and soared into a nearby shed, which caused it to go up in flames.

The blaze in Long Island quickly spread to the defendant's home and then to a neighbor's house.

A single mother renting part of the first home to catch fire was reportedly forced to flee for her life from the burning house.

The Wantagh Fire Department responded and was able to extinguish the fires. However, both homes suffered extensive damage. No injuries were reported.

The Nassau County’s Arson Bomb Squad was also called to the scene and arrested Karamjit Singh without incident.

Singh was charged with second-degree arson, fourth-degree reckless endangerment, unlawfully selling of fireworks to someone under 18, unlawfully possessing fireworks, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Singh was released from jail without bail on Friday after pleading not guilty at his arraignment.

Singh's son was allegedly released to a family member.

Nassau County Fire Marshals launched an investigation into the fiery fireworks accident.

In nearby Suffolk County, a 21-year-old man reportedly severed three fingers on his left hand, damaged two fingers, and suffered burns on his leg in a fireworks accident on July 4th.

A 66-year-old Long Island man from Brentwood lost a hand and several fingers of his second hand after a fireworks explosion on Saturday night, according to WNBC.

As Blaze News previously reported, a South Carolina man was killed after putting a lit firework on top of his head while "showboating" during a 4th of July neighborhood block party. Video caught the last moments of the 41-year-old man's life as he was dancing in an Uncle Sam costume before his tragic, sudden death.

Blaze News also reported on a fatal fireworks accident on Independence Day in Tennessee. A 35-year-old man suffered a large chest wound and died after a firework exploded in his hands.

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Flaming train caught on video barreling through Canadian city's downtown



Freight trains carrying hazardous materials routinely barrel through the Canadian city of London, Ontario. They are typically not engulfed in flames and trailing massive columns of thick smoke. However, the city witnessed one such glowing aberration Sunday night.

According to the London Fire Department, old wooden railway ties inside five train cars caught fire, transforming a Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway train into a rolling inferno. Officials indicated they will "treat everything as arson until proven otherwise."

Several onlookers captured video of the CPKCR train blaze past homes, trees, and other potential kindling.

Same friend was also there a few blocks later when the train stopped \n\nAnother angle: \n#ldnont
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None
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The train was ultimately brought to a stop around 10:49 p.m. in a residential area near Richmond Street and Pall Mall Street.

Officials urged nearby residents to remain indoors and to shut their windows over fears of smoke inhalation while multiple fire crews worked diligently to extinguish the flames. It took fire crews and Canadian Pacific Railway personnel roughly two hours to bring the fire under control.

Fire crews working with CPR personnel to bring fire under control. Fire crews are in defensive attack. #ldnont ^cs
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The torched train section was taken to a rail yard where firefighters could put out the remaining smoldering material.

The LFD lauded the "excellent job by fire crews to contain this fire," adding, "It was a very efficient knockdown of a large fire and great work by CPR train crew who disconnected cars."

While officials indicated there were no "dangerous goods" inside the affected train cars, state media confirmed the train was nevertheless pulling hazardous materials. LFD Chief Colin Shewell indicated that the hazmat cars were successfully separated and moved away from the fires.

LFD noted on X that "thanks to multiple 911 callers that advised our Communication Operations of an eastbound train on fire going over Oxford St. [w]e were able to get on scene & contain the fire in the downtown area very quickly with limited damage and no injuries."

The damage did an estimated $25,000 in damage to the rail cars and $10,00 to a nearby building.

"The incident remains under investigation. We thank the London first responders for their effective response to the fire last night." CPKCR spokesman Terry Cunha said in a statement.

Malcolm Cairns, a former CPR worker, told state media, "The Transportation Safety Board [TSB] will have their review of this incident and they will go into great depth, taking witness statements and looking at all the evidence, and eventually you'll know what caused it and whether the rules were obeyed."

"We will treat everything as arson until proven otherwise," said LFD Chief Shewell. "These were scrap railway ties, so there's really no dollar value on them. They were actually destined to be destroyed."

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs shared the following unanswered questions:

  • "When did the train crew notice the fire on board and why didn't they call 911?"
  • "Why did the train stop where it did, in the middle of a residential neighborhood just west of a shunting yard?"
  • "How did the railway ties, coated in flammable wood preservative creosote, catch fire?"
  • "Did the fire spread from one car to the others, or did all five catch fire at once?"

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Ship that obliterated Baltimore bridge was involved in a previous collision; managed by DEI-captive company



Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge is apparently not the first structure that the Dali has left its mark on in recent years. The Singapore-flagged container ship that obliterated the bridge and effectively closed the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic Tuesday morning previously had an incident in a Belgian port.

The Dali, a 984-foot vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and managed by the DEI-captive Synergy Marine Group, collided with the stone pier in the Port of Antwerp during unmooring maneuvers on July 11, 2016.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on a clear day with good weather, resulted in significant damages to the stern and transom of the ship.

— (@)

VesselFinder noted at the time that the ship remained afloat but suffered breaches near the waterline as well as serious damage to its berth requiring repairs. The ship was detained and closed for cargo.

"As a general rule, these accidents are investigated, and ships are only allowed to leave after experts have determined it is safe for them to do so," a spokesman for the Port of Antwerp told Reuters.

The incident was reportedly the result of mistakes made by the master and pilot on board.

The same ship attempted to leave the Baltimore Harbor just after 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. However, while traveling at what Maryland Gov. Wes Moore indicated was a "very rapid speed," the ship allegedly lost power. The pilots alerted authorities but were evidently unable to arrest the ship's progress.

Blaze News previously reported that Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley claimed there is "absolutely no indication" that the Dali rammed into the bridge intentionally.

The FBI Baltimore field office indicated several hours after the incident that there "is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time."

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report suggested the Dali "lost propulsion" while leaving port and that the pilots alerted officials to their loss of control.

At 1:28 a.m., the unlit container ship careened into a pier holding up the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge, which spanned 1.6 miles over the Patapsco River, immediately collapsed.

Several vehicles atop the bridge at the time of the collision plunged into the frigid waters below. Two individuals were rescued, one of whom was in critical condition. Six were still missing at the time of publication.

The ship's all-Indian crew all survived.

— (@)

Synergy Marine Group, the company tasked with managing the ship, appears to have priorities besides avoiding collisions with critical infrastructure.

The company touts itself as a "leading shipmanager ... provid[ing] end-to-end maritime solutions with precisely and expertly tailored services."

Synergy Marine Group states on its website that "issues related to diversity are a high priority at Synergy. We realize that the benefits of diversity are best achieved by fostering greater inclusion and belonging."

The company indicated that its goal is a "workplace that is truly characterized by inclusion and belonging."

Days prior to paralyzing a major American port, the company underscored its commitment to "Diversity@Sea" and DEI.

Baltimore was apparently the company's latest stop on its "DEI journey in building an innovative and sustainable maritime sector which all can be proud of."

The company said in a statement that "whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the 'DALI' has now mobilised its Qualified Individual Incident response service. The US Coast Guard and local officials have been notified, and the owners and managers are fully cooperating with Federal and State government agencies under an approved plan."

President Joe Biden suggested Tuesday afternoon that he had directed his administration "to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident."

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Cargo ship rams into major Baltimore bridge, causing total collapse



Early Tuesday morning, a Singapore-flagged container ship called the Dali rammed into one of the piers holding up Francis Scott Key Bridge, a steel arch-shaped truss bridge extending Interstate 695 some 1,200 feet over the Baltimore Harbor. Upon impact, the bridge came toppling down — along with those vehicles on the compromised segments.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman indicated the bridge has "totally collapsed" and that rescue teams are on site.

So far, there have been no reports of casualties.

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace indicated that two people were pulled from the waters, one of whom was in serious condition, reported the Associated Press.

Wallace noted that authorities "may be looking for upwards of seven people."

The fire department reportedly employed sonar to detect vehicles that plunged into the depths.

A livestream captured the precise moment the 984-foot vessel crashed into the bridge, timestamped at 1:28 a.m.. The ship can be seen smashing into one of the piers on its way out of the port, triggering a chain reaction.

Minutes earlier, the lights aboard the ship appear to flicker, suggestive of a possible electronic malfunction.

The 9-year-old ship was on its way to Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to VesselFinder.

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse
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A photo from the tragedy at the Francis Scott Key Bridge. \n\n*Double checked, actual photo of cargo ship. #francisscottkeybridge \n\nAwaiting press conference around 7amET\u2026.
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) declared a state of emergency and indicated the state is working with an inter-agency team to deploy federal resources.

Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, called the incident a "dire emergency" and expressed concerns earlier in the morning that the collapse may amount to a "developing mass casualty event."

The remains of both the collapsed bridge and the ship's cargo may hinder traffic into and out of the port, the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic. This could prove greatly consequential for trade and commerce.

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\ud83d\udea8#BREAKING: Morning Daylight reveals the aftermath of the mass casualty event of the Scott Key Bridge collapse\n\n\ud83d\udccc#Baltimore | #Maryland\n\nWatch As morning daylight approaches, it reveals the devastating aftermath of an early morning incident after a large cargo ship from\u2026
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Synergy Marine Group, the outfit that owns and manages the vessel, reportedly confirmed that the ship collided with the bridge while in control of two pilots. The crew suffered no fatalities or injuries.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley indicated there is "absolutely no indication" that the Dali rammed into the bridge intentionally.

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report noted that the Dali "lost propulsion" while leaving port and that the pilots alerted officials to their loss of control, reported ABC News.

The Maryland Transportation Authority noted that alternate routes across the harbor are the I-95 or I-895 tunnels. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials are barred from using the tunnels and must use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels, according to the MDTA.

Brandon Scott, Baltimore's Democratic mayor, said, "This is a tragedy that you can never imagine," adding that the collapse "looked like something out of an action movie."

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Plane containing a couple and a 2 year old crashed into the woods. A single parachute made all the difference.



A small plane containing a husband, wife, and their 2-year-old daughter took off Friday for Santa Rosa from Shelter Cove Airport in Humboldt County, California. The plane never made it to its destination.

Upon receiving a report of a possible airplane crash nearby Usal Road in Whitethorn around 1:15 p.m., Mendocino County Sheriff's Office deputies — joined by deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, and other first responders — raced to the scene.

First responders scoured the hilly timberland and found an aircraft torn asunder. While the plane was in pieces, the Santa Rosa family was still together. What's more: the child and her 38-year-old parents made off with only minor cuts and scratches.

Five minutes after takeoff, the 2004 Cirrus SR22 single-propeller plane's engine apparently lost power. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, the pilot attempted to figure out what killed the engine but quickly realized the "plane's altitude was too low for recovery."

Fortunately for the family, the plane was equipped with a Cirrus Airframe Parachute System.

"It sounded like it was a last-resort effort," Captain Quincy Cromer of the MCSO told the Press Democrat.

This whole-plane ballistic parachute recovery system, which has come standard on Cirrus aircraft since 1998, fires out a canopy attached to the fuselage that slows an ill-fated plane's descent in the interest of preserving its crew.

Sure enough, the CAPS worked for the family Friday, carrying their plane over to a heavily wooded and mountainous area straddling the Mendocino-Humboldt County line. While their descent was slowed, it was not arrested altogether. The plane ultimately crashed upside down onto the forest floor, losing its tail in the process.

Shelter Cove Fire Department, among the local departments that responded to the crash, emphasized that "even with the parachute the parties involved were extremely fortunate to only receive minor injuries."

SCFD also expressed gratitude "to Cal Fire Fortuna ECC, Whale Gulch Volunteer Fire Company, Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team, USCG Sector Humboldt Bay, City Ambulance, and the quick acting witnesses who aided in locating the victims."

The MCSO suggested that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident.

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2 children died in Amish buggy crash, police investigating how identical twins, meth, and damning internet searches relate to tragic case



A tragic accident in Minnesota took the lives of two children when a woman accused of driving under the influence crashed into an Amish buggy in September. Police are now investigating how identical twins, meth, and damning internet searches relate to the heartbreaking case.

Samantha Petersen, 35, was charged with 21 felonies, including four counts of criminal vehicular homicide – operating a vehicle with neglect, eight counts of aiding an offender, and four counts of criminal vehicular operation.

A probable cause statement said Petersen tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, Delta-9 THC, and the metabolite of Delta-9 THC.

Court records show she was previously convicted of drunk driving in October 2015 and impaired driving under a controlled substance in August 2018.

Police suspect that Petersen's identical twin sister – Sarah Petersen – switched clothes with Samantha at the crime scene in an alleged attempt to take responsibility for the deadly crash.

Sarah Petersen has been charged with four counts of criminal vehicular homicide – operating vehicle with neglect, eight counts of aiding an offender, and four counts of criminal vehicular operation.

KTTC reported, "According to the complaint, the SUV involved in the deadly crash was traveling between 63 and 71 miles per hour when it rear-ended the buggy on Fillmore County Road 1 in Fillmore County. The speed limit on that stretch is 55 miles per hour."

Two children in the Amish buggy – 7-year-old Wilma Miller and 11-year-old Irma Miller – were killed in the fatal accident. Their siblings – a 9-year-old brother and a 13-year-old sister – were hospitalized with serious injuries.

The 9-year-old suffered a broken left shoulder, lacerated kidney, torn spleen, concussion, and slight bleeding in his brain. The 13-year-old endured facial scarring.

Law enforcement admitted that the sisters being identical twins "added a lot of complexity" to the investigation.

"As the days continued beyond that first day where the crash was reported, inconsistencies started to appear in both sisters' stories and in the evidence that the deputies uncovered," Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge DeGeorge said during a press conference on Thursday. "Later, it was determined through a series of search warrants, interviews, analysis of different data that in fact Samantha Petersen, Sarah's twin sister, was driving that vehicle."

DeGeorge stated, "Sarah was on scene a short time before our first deputy arrived. That allowed them to come up with this story where Sarah would take responsibility for the crash and start to mislead the investigation from that point."

An investigator interviewed Sarah Beth Petersen after the fatal wreck, and recorded the conversation – apparently unbeknownst to the sisters. Sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Dornink briefly left the interview, and that's when Samantha walked over to her sister and reportedly said, “I think that one of the guys is onto me but I don’t really care … There’s no way they would ever know the difference between the two of us so they can’t tell."

A major turning point in the investigation arrived when law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the sisters' cell phones.

According to court documents, Samantha Petersen's cell phone sent a text message to a friend on Sept. 25 that read: "I hit that Amish buggy and killed two ppl [sic]. Made Sarah come there and take the fall for it so I wouldn't go to prison."

DeGeorge said the charges took a "very long time" to get processed because it was a lengthy process to acquire and analyze cell phone data.

Police said Samantha Petersen called the human resources department after the deadly car crash.

Additionally, police say Samantha Petersen called the human resources department at her work shortly after the car wreck.

“I (expletive) up ... I just killed two Amish people. They were kids ... I just hit a (expletive) buggy ... I’m not sober ... I’m high on meth," Samantha told the human resource manager – who later reportedly informed police.

Samantha Petersen allegedly made damning internet searches following the fatal accident.

USA Today reported, "Police say they also found various internet searches on Petersen's phone, including: 'What happens if you get in an accident with an Amish buggy and kill two people?'"

Sarah Petersen’s first court appearance is scheduled for April 1.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help financially support the grieving family. At the time of publication, the crowdfunding campaign raised more than $90,000.

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Amish buggy crash kills two, twin sisters involved try to cover-up who did it www.youtube.com

Philadelphia police charge combatant over gruesome death of man crushed by subway train



A fight broke out Thursday night at a subway station in the crime-ridden city of Philadelphia. What started with fists and raised voices ultimately ended with screams and the cold steel of a SEPTA train's wheels. Although police are still investigating the gruesome incident, the surviving combatant has been charged with manslaughter.

The fight, which was filmed by a nearby commuter, broke out between two men around 4:30 p.m. on the SEPTA train platform for the Market-Frankford line at 34th and Market streets, reported WCAU-TV.

Philadelphia Police Inspector Kpana Massaquoi said it "appeared to be some type of physical altercation. We don't know exactly what took place prior to that to initiate this, but it's being investigated."

Footage shows the victim holding a smaller man against a pillar near the edge of the platform. The smaller man, identified by police as Chaz Wearing — a 40-year-old with a criminal history — appears to demand something from the victim. It's unclear what precisely the two are arguing about, but the threatening nature of their gesticulation is unmistakable.

Wearing punches the victim in the face, knocking him off balance. As the victim stumbles backward, toward the edge, Wearing attempts to strike him once more. Apparently noticing his own proximity to the edge and the fast-approaching train, Wearing recoils, falling away from the edge. The victim, meanwhile, slips headfirst over the edge and onto the tracks below.

Despite the conductor's apparent efforts to brake, the incoming SEPTA train runs over the victim roughly three seconds after he fell, eliciting screams, cries, and gasps from onlookers in the vicinity.

In the longer, uncut footage of the incident that shows the victim's lifeless form coiled around the train's front wheels, one witness can be heard saying, "That is f***ing ridiculous. ... Oh my God, I feel so f***ing terrible."

Wearing was apprehended blocks away at the 40th Street Station. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office announced Friday that he was charged with involuntary manslaughter, reported WCAU.

Wearing is believed to be homeless and was wanted in relation to a strangulation case in Delaware County, according to investigators. He reportedly has a criminal history in Clinton and Lycoming counties as well.

The victim has yet to be identified.

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The railway announced a temporary closure of the 34th Street Station after the incident on account of "police activity."

The Thursday incident comes just days after Philadelphia's new Democrat mayor, Cherelle Parker, stated in her inaugural address, "I want the world to know that I am fully committed to ending this sense of lawlessness and bringing order back to our city and a sense of lawfulness," reported the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Five days into the new year, and Philadelphia has already seen three homicides. In 2023 and in 2022, there were 410 and 514 murders, respectively. According to Neighborhood Scout, the likelihood of falling victim to a violent crime in the city is 1 in 123. The likelihood of becoming a victim of a property crime in the city is 1 in 38.

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