Category: News

Jul 11

1 dead after SUV plummets over cliffside in Rancho Palos Verdes

At least one person is confirmed dead after a vehicle plummeted over a cliffside in Rancho Palos Verdes Tuesday afternoon, authorities announced.

Rescue personnel responded to the scene near Palos Verdes Drive West and Calle Entradero around 2:45 p.m. according to L.A. County Fire.

It is unclear what led to the crash, but when crews arrived, they found what appeared to be a white sport utility vehicle 150 feet over the cliffside.

Aerial video from Sky5 showed the vehicle’s front end completely flattened with debris strewn across the cliffside. In video obtained by KTLA, a heavy presence of police and firefighters can be seen above the cliff, as well as damage done to the fence that the SUV allegedly drove crashed through.

  • One person died after their vehicle plummeted 150 feet off a cliffside in Rancho Palos Verdes on July 11, 2023. (KTLA)
    First responders on a Rancho Palos Verdes cliffside after an SUV plunged 150 feet below, killing at least one person in the car on July 11, 2023. (KTLA)
    Damage seen to a fence that an SUV allegedly crashed through before plunging off a cliffside and killing at least one of the vehicle’s occupants in Rancho Palos Verdes on July 11, 2023. (KTLA)

Authorities have not said if there were any other passengers in the vehicle.

Jul 11

Tragic SUV Plunge Claims Life in Rancho Palos Verdes

Fatal Accident on Cliffside Road

A devastating accident occurred in Rancho Palos Verdes Tuesday afternoon when an SUV plunged off a cliff, resulting in one fatality. The incident was reported around 3:30 p.m. by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who arrived at the scene near Palos Verdes Drive and Calle Entradero. The vehicle fell about 150 feet down the rugged hillside, leaving the scene in a state of wreckage.

Rescue and Recovery Efforts

Emergency responders confirmed that one person lost their life in the crash, although details about the victim or the number of occupants remain unclear. Images from the scene revealed the SUV’s front end severely damaged, with fire crews meticulously examining the debris. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the circumstances of this tragic event and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Jul 11

Weird crash: SUV gets skewered by guardrail in Roosevelt

ROOSEVELT−An SUV traveling on Route 571 in the borough drifted off the road Sunday and caught the sharp end a guardrail that skewered the vehicle, but left whoever was in it uninjured, authorities said.

The crash happened about 4:30 p.m. on what’s also known as North Rochdale Avenue, said Sgt. Philip Curry of the New Jersey State Police.

The crash involved only one vehicle and no injuries, Curry said.

After striking the barrier lengthwise, the SUV continued along the same path, ending in what appears to be in the middle of the section of guardrail, based on photos from the Millstone Township Fire Department. About 20 feet of the guardrail was left sticking out of the rear of the car.

No further information was released about the driver, possible passengers or whether any tickets were issued.

Jul 11

SUV reported stolen with infant inside in Alabama may have rolled into thick brush, police say

An SUV that was reported stolen with an infant inside in Alabama may have instead rolled into thick brush where it lay hidden, AL.com reported Tuesday.

Officers found the SUV in vines Tuesday morning, roughly 100 yards (90 meters) from where it was reported stolen about 12 hours earlier, Parrish police Chief Danny Woodard told the news site. The girl, 9-month-old Harlow Darby Freeman, was safe in her car seat.

Investigators now say it’s likely the car was not stolen and Harlow was not kidnapped. Instead, the SUV may have rolled down an embankment when the driver failed to put it in park, Woodard said. He said police were still investigating and planned to conduct more interviews.

“This is not something that happens in a small town like Parrish,’’ he said. “This is a strange turn of events.”

Parrish is about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Birmingham. Dozens of officers began searching for Harlow late Monday after her family reported the SUV stolen outside a house. The girl’s father left her in the vehicle while he ran into a friend’s house, police said.

Multiple searches of the area did not turn up the vehicle until the next morning.

One of the SUV’s windows was broken, providing the girl with ventilation overnight, Woodard told AL.com. She was found dehydrated but otherwise in good condition.

Jul 11

Arnold Police seek man who allegedly fled from officers in stolen SUV

Arnold Police are trying to identify a man who reportedly was driving a stolen SUV in the city, failed to pull over for officers and fled from them. The suspect was last seen in the SUV, a black Nissan Rogue, headed south into Jefferson County, police reported.

At 10:04 a.m. July 2, police were alerted that the SUV was in the city after Flock license-plate reading cameras spotted it in the area around Jeffco and Starling Airport Road. The SUV had been reported stolen in St. Louis County on June 2, Arnold Police Lt. Jeremy Christopher said.

Officers saw the SUV at Jeffco and Michigan Avenue, and the driver allegedly would not pull over. Police tried to use spike strips to disable the SUV at Jeffco and Dohack Boulevard, but the attempt was unsuccessful and the man got away, Christopher said.

Jul 11

Republican Proposals Aim To Derail The Pentagon’s Electric Vehicle Push

New GOP proposals aim to restrict the US Army from obtaining combat and non-combat EVs.

The Pentagon’s push to electrify the US Arny’s fleet can encounter major hurdles in the near future. A new report reveals contents from several GOP proposals that aim to restrict electric vehicle research and development for the US armed forces.

Under President Biden, the military is looking to adopt EVs into its fleet, but Republicans’ proposed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) could hinder these efforts, reported The Washington Post.

The amendment by Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania includes defunding developments in “electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging, or photovoltaic technology.”

Perry also aims to restrict the use of critical minerals for manufacturing EV batteries. Additionally, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert has proposed “termination of contracts for electric non-tactical vehicles.”

The House might vote on the NDAA this week, but it’s unclear whether the amendments will garner enough support, or pass the chamber. But conservatives’ influence over the House Rules Committee might impact the success of the amendments.

Militaries are among the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions, and the Pentagon is the world’s largest institutional consumer of oil.

Last year, the US Army Climate Strategy listed the hazards of continued use of fossil fuels in war zones and the possible solutions. Climate change-fuelled natural disasters can increase the frequency of crisis deployments, disrupt operations, and jeopardize soldiers’ health.

To counter the dangers, the army plans to field an all-electric non-tactical vehicle fleet by 2035, and fully electric tactical vehicles by 2050. The plan also includes providing green electricity for army installations by 2030 and charging infrastructure on all Department of Defense (DoD) installations.

A June 2023 report by the Institute for Energy Research suggests that the disadvantages of EVs on the battlefield far outweigh the benefits at the moment.

A 50-ton combat vehicle would require a 17-megawatt charger to recharge within 15 minutes, and if the charging station is fossil fuel dependent, it would consume 1200 gallons of diesel per hour.

Even though EVs can be stealthy on the battlefield, they can generate electromagnetic fields for enemies to detect using sensory equipment. Hence, electrification may only be practical for support vehicles, as per the report.

Some automakers have already joined the DoD’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Last month, General Motors Defense revealed its Electric Military Concept Vehicle (EMCV) for the US Army’s electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (eLRV) program. The EMCV is based on the Hummer EV and uses GM’s Ultium battery and architecture.

Jul 11

Catastrophic Accident in Rancho Palos Verdes Results in Fatality

Overview of the Incident

The Los Angeles County Fire Department was called to a harrowing scene in Rancho Palos Verdes where an SUV was reported to have careened off a cliff. This grave incident, which unfolded near 25 Via del Cielo at approximately 2:40 p.m., sadly resulted in at least one confirmed fatality.

Ongoing Rescue Operations

In the aftermath of the tragic accident, rescue personnel are scouring the crash site for potential survivors. The rugged terrain poses significant challenges to the rescue efforts, complicating the search for any other individuals who may have been in the vehicle during the accident.

Community Response and Preventative Action

The grave incident underscores the inherent risks associated with navigating the picturesque yet treacherous roadways of Rancho Palos Verdes. In response, local authorities are expected to review and potentially strengthen safety protocols to help avert similar tragedies in the future. The local community is in mourning, grappling with the shock and sorrow brought on by this tragic event.

Jul 11

Paris to Implement Higher Parking Fees for SUVs to Combat Urban Pollution

New Parking Fee Structure to Address Vehicle Size and Weight

In a bid to curb pollution, Paris is set to increase parking fees for SUV owners starting January 1, 2024. Although specific fee details have yet to be disclosed, the charges will be based on vehicle size, weight, and engine type. This measure aims to address the rising number of SUVs, which have grown by 60% in the past four years and now represent 15% of all parked vehicles in the city.

Intent and Reactions to the Fee Increases

The Paris city council, having unanimously approved this initiative, seeks to address what is being termed “auto-besity” — the growing trend of larger, heavier vehicles dominating urban streets. Frédéric Badina-Serpette of the EELV ecology party emphasizes that this progressive pricing model will help reduce the prevalence of oversized vehicles. Electric cars and those used by large families are expected to be exempt from these increased fees.

David Belliard, a deputy mayor focused on public space and mobility, criticizes SUVs as ill-suited for city environments due to their size and resource consumption. Conversely, Pierre Chasseray from the driver defense group 40 millions d’Automobilistes argues that larger vehicles are often necessary for families and that this policy unfairly targets a small portion of the population. Similar initiatives are emerging in other French cities, such as Lyon and Grenoble, indicating a broader trend towards regulating vehicle sizes in urban areas.

Jul 11

Rise in Vehicle Thefts: Unlocked SUV with Keys Inside Stolen

A Preventable Theft in Bloomfield Township

The Bloomfield Township Police Department is actively investigating a recent incident where a 2014 GMC Yukon was stolen from a residential driveway on Peabody Drive. Reported on July 8, the theft occurred during the night, with the SUV notably left unlocked and the keys inside, making it an easy target for thieves. This oversight underscores the importance of securing vehicles, even when parked at home.

Call for Public Assistance and Preventative Measures

Authorities are seeking assistance from the public to gather any information that could lead to the recovery of the stolen vehicle. Residents with any relevant details are urged to contact the Bloomfield Township Police Department at their non-emergency line, 248-433-7755. In response to this incident, police are emphasizing the critical need for residents to lock their vehicles, secure or remove valuables, and ensure that keys are never left inside, to prevent similar occurrences.