Category: News

Apr 26

‘Pray hard!’: Family updates condition of Tifton boy hit by SUV

A Tifton 5-year-old who was hospitalized after being hit by an SUV in a school zone on Tuesday is still healing.

According to a family member’s post on Friday, Isaiah Silva is expected to stay in a medically induced coma at a Jacksonville hospital for at least a few days. X-rays, brain monitors and cooling blankets are also being used to aid his recovery.

In a post, a family member said, “Pray hard! The doctors took him down to CT due to his left pupil not reacting earlier yesterday they said it was sluggish and now it’s not reacting please lord we need a miracle!”

Apr 26

SUV Crashes into Laurel Convenience Store, Seriously Injures Teen

Police are investigating a crash into a Laurel convenience store Thursday night that left one 17-year-old seriously injured.

The Laurel Police Department says they were dispatched to the First Stop Gas Station on West Street on reports of a vehicle colliding with a building. There, police say they found an SUV had driven over the concrete parking barricades in the parking lot and into the convenience store. A 17-year-old pedestrian who had been leaning against the wall at the time was also struck.

An investigation reportedly revealed the 78-year-old driver of the SUV pulled into a parking spot outside the convenience store then exited the vehicle without placing it in park, according to police. As the SUV began rolling forward, the driver attempted to jump back into the vehicle and press the brake. Instead of the brake, however, police say the driver pressed down on the accelerator, driving the SUV onto the sidewalk.

The 17-year-old pedestrian, from Laurel, was taken to a local hospital for serious injuries.

The driver of the SUV was given two citations for Inattentive Driving and Failure to Have Insurance Identification in Possession.

Apr 26

Tesla Autopilot Under Scrutiny: 13 Fatalities and Hundreds of Crashes Investigated

Overview of Tesla Autopilot Investigation

Ongoing Safety Concerns

U.S. federal regulators are examining whether a recent recall by Tesla effectively addressed the safety concerns surrounding its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems. Despite Tesla’s detailed description of what its Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) can and cannot do, it still requires vigilant human oversight to ensure driver safety. This conclusion from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlights significant challenges for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has placed considerable emphasis on the company’s autonomous driving technology.

Findings from NHTSA Investigation

The NHTSA’s comprehensive investigation, which spanned nearly five years and analyzed around 1,000 crashes, found that many incidents were due to driver misuse and the system’s insufficient monitoring of driver attention. Of the 956 crashes studied, the NHTSA identified that 13 resulted in fatalities and numerous others caused serious injuries. The Office of Defective Investigations (ODI) stated that “Tesla’s weak driver engagement system was not appropriate for Autopilot’s permissive operating capabilities,” indicating a critical safety gap.

Tesla Autopilot

The agency discovered that drivers could easily bypass the safety mechanisms designed to ensure they remained attentive while using Autopilot. For example, early Tesla models allowed drivers to use objects like an orange or a ball to apply pressure on the steering wheel, tricking the system into thinking the driver’s hands were still on the wheel. Although this issue was addressed in later models, it remains a significant point of concern.

Detailed Examination of Crashes

Among the 956 crashes reviewed, the NHTSA focused on trends in approximately half of these incidents. Specifically, they found:

  • 211 cases where the front of a Tesla collided with another vehicle or obstacle, situations where an attentive driver could have avoided or mitigated the crash.
  • 111 cases where the vehicle departed from the roadway due to the driver’s inputs inadvertently disengaging Autosteer.
  • 145 cases where the vehicle left the roadway under low traction conditions, such as on wet surfaces.

These patterns were observed across all Tesla models and hardware versions, underscoring systemic issues with Autopilot’s functionality.

Continued Regulatory Oversight

While the NHTSA closed its initial investigation following Tesla’s recall in December, which included modifications to Autopilot’s functions, the scrutiny is far from over. The agency has launched another probe into the effectiveness of these over-the-air updates, affecting over 2 million Tesla vehicles across all five models. This new investigation aims to confirm whether the fixes implemented have adequately resolved the safety concerns.

Broader Implications and Recent Incidents

The debate over Autopilot’s safety continues to be a hot topic. Recently, a Tesla driver was charged with vehicular homicide after their 2022 Model S, reportedly using Autopilot, collided with and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle. Although the police have not confirmed if Autopilot was engaged at the time, the driver admitted to using the system and being distracted by their phone.

This ongoing investigation highlights the critical need for drivers to remain attentive, regardless of the advancements in autonomous driving technology. Even with sophisticated ADAS systems, the responsibility of safe driving ultimately falls on the human behind the wheel.

Apr 26

Coroner responding to deadly crash on bridge over I-85

Three people have died and another victim is hospitalized after a crash along Interstate 85 on Friday.

Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis said an SUV was traveling north on I-85 when it ran off the right shoulder, up an embankment, through the cement bridge abutment of the Staunton Bridge Road overpass, jumped over all four lanes of traffic, went through trees on the other side of the bridge and down an embankment.

“When the vehicle jumped all four lanes of traffic, it actually struck trees probably at least 20 feet above the ground,” Ellis said.

Three people were killed with the coroner said an SUV ran off I-85, hit a bridge abutment, and launched over four lanes of traffic

Three female victims died on scene. A fourth person was hospitalized and the victim’s condition is unknown. Ellis said the victims are from Georgia.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Gantt Fire and Rescue and multiple Greenville County EMS units responded to the scene.

The wreckage of the SUV is in multiple pieces after hitting the bridge. The reason the vehicle left the roadway is under investigation.

“It’s obvious that they were traveling above the posted speed limit and for some reason left the roadway,” Ellis said. “Unsure exactly why at this time.”

Apr 26

4 teenagers die after high speed chase involving Florida Highway Patrol

Grief counselors were at Newberry High School all week after several teenagers were killed in a crash during a vehicle chase involving state troopers in Bradford County.

Newberry city officials tell TV20 that all four of the teenagers, between the ages of 14 and 16, involved in a wreck in the Waldo area last Saturday have died. Two died on the scene and the other two died in the hospital from their injuries days later. Two of the teenagers are Newberry High School students.

A trooper did a pit maneuver causing the stolen car to flip over before wrapping around a pole.

Bradford County Sheriff’s deputies say the incident started with an SUV stolen in Gainesville and was detected by a license plate reader hours later. Gainesville Police Department detectives say the vehicle theft was not connected to a homicide that occurred in the area.

A sheriff’s deputy confirmed the SUV was stolen and followed while waiting for backup. The deputy could tell multiple people were in the SUV. Once backup arrived, they attempted to pull over the SUV. It slowed down and then sped off.

Deputies pursued the vehicle at speeds of more than 100 mph. The deputies got to speeds of 111 mph before their patrol vehicle governors kicked in preventing them from accelerating further.

Unable to keep up with the vehicle, deputies pulled back and allowed a Florida Highway Patrol trooper to continue the chase. The trooper rammed the vehicle and used a PIT maneuver, causing the SUV to roll over and collide with a cement pole.

Authorities say two of the teenagers in the SUV were wearing ankle monitors and three had active warrants.

Clarification: A prior version of this article suggested a connection between a Gainesville homicide and the stolen SUV based on information provided by law enforcement sources. Gainesville P.D. detectives have since clarified they do not believe the incidents are connected.

Apr 26

SUV crashes into Garland County massage building, causing damage

A massage building in Garland County was destroyed on Thursday after a black Mercedes drove through its front wall, causing it to cave in.

In a release, the Garland County Sheriff’s Office says that they responded to a call reporting a private property accident at 2:52 p.m. on Thursday.

They arrived at 1539 Airport Road to find a black Mercedes that had driven through the front wall of a local business, Angel Massage.

The Sheriff’s Office says that LifeNet units responded for the involved parties.

KATV reached out to the Garland County Chief Deputy, who confirmed that there were no lasting injuries from the incident by saying “Everyone involved is ok.”

Apr 26

Woman who crashed SUV into birthday party at boat club, killing kids, is released is $1.5 million bond

The woman who crashed her SUV into the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County last weekend, killing two children, is now free on bond.

Marshella Chidester’s attorney told the Detroit Free Press the 66-year-old was released Thursday after posting her $1.5 million bond, with help from a surety company.

Chidester is accused of driving drunk when she crashed into the boat club, where a child’s birthday party was being held. She is charged with two counts of second degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injuries

Footage from doorbell cameras show an SUV speeding before it crashes into the club. Two children, a brother and sister, ages 4 and 8, were killed. Their older brother and their mother were critically injured and remain hospitalized.

In total, officials said nine people were treated at hospitals, and others suffered minor injuries.

Family members of the children killed have already raised more than $225,000 through a GoFundMe page.

The family has also filed a lawsuit against Chidester and the bar where she was allegedly drinking prior to the crash, alleging gross negligence.

Chidester’s defense attorney contends she only had one glass of wine, wasn’t drunk, and crashed because she suffered a seizure behind the wheel.

Chidester faces up to life in prison if she is convicted on the murder charge.

Apr 26

Robotic Dog Dressed as a Fox Saves Animals Lives…by Chasing Them?

Of all Boston Dynamics’ deployed robots, this one may have the strangest assignment.

Aurora has a tough life. The little robotic dog was built by Boston Dynamics and spent years learning to traverse all kinds of terrain. Then he was shipped from New England to Fairbanks, Alaska. When he arrived, he was immediately pressed into service, walking the rounds outdoors.

You might think this is a good thing, a chance for Aurora to meet some real life canines and other critters in the wild north. But you’d be wrong. See, Aurora’s new employers designed fur-like graphics so they could dress him up as a fox or coyote. This poor little robot’s job is to scare away any animal he encounters.

Aurora spends all day and night patrolling the highways. It’s especially important he scare migrating birds away from their nests. But if he encounters moose or bear, he’s supposed to chase them until they run away too. There’s one silver lining for Aurora: he’s doing this all to save their lives.

The view of Fairbanks International Airport from the air
Fairbanks International Airport | Alaska Air

See Aurora’s new home is the Fairbanks International Airport. His new people are the Alaska Department of Transportation. Alaska is the state with the most fatal airplane crashes per capita, and one reason is birds living near runways striking small planes during takeoff.

The DoT has tried all kinds of strategies to keep Alaskan runways clear. It has installed speakers playing loud noises on loop. It has shot at nearby animals with nonlethal paintball guns. It has unleashed pigs to eat bird eggs. It has even set up drones to spray the area with grape juice which the animals don’t like. But nothing worked, nothing until Aurora.

So next time Alaskans land or take off in Fairbanks safely, they can thank the brave little robot, patrolling through the snow and ice, night and day, just to keep the runways clear.

Apr 26

Routine Vehicle Check Leads to Drug Arrests and Theft Charges in Hot Springs

Suspicious Vehicle Inspection Escalates to Arrests

In Hot Springs, a routine check of a suspicious SUV parked illegally on a fire service road culminated in significant legal repercussions for two individuals. On Wednesday morning, local law enforcement arrested a woman from Hot Springs on serious drug-related charges and a man from Pearcy for an outstanding felony theft warrant. The arrests occurred after authorities spotted the vehicle in a restricted area, prompting a closer examination.

Details of the Incident and Charges

The suspects, identified as Michael Wayne Simpson, 42, and Crystal Lyn Bearden, 44, were apprehended around 8 a.m. near Plemmons Terrace. Simpson faced charges related to a previous theft of over $2,000 worth of goods from a local home improvement store. Concurrently, Bearden was charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, each offense carrying a potential sentence of up to six years in prison.

Background and Legal Proceedings

Past Convictions and Ongoing Legal Battles

Both Simpson and Bearden have histories of legal issues, with Simpson having prior convictions for meth possession and pending charges for meth delivery and conspiracy. Bearden’s criminal record includes convictions for drug offenses and robbery, leading to various prison sentences over the years. The recent incident further complicates their legal situations, as they were found with substances and paraphernalia during the vehicle inspection, leading to immediate legal action and their continued detention awaiting court proceedings scheduled for early June.

These arrests highlight ongoing challenges in tackling drug abuse and theft within the community, demonstrating the critical role of routine patrols and checks in maintaining public safety and enforcing the law.