A helicopter carrying 19 men to an oil rig in the North Sea was forced to ditch when mechanical issues were reported by the pilot. The investigation of the ditching is ongoing, but a failed gear-box is believed to be a factor. A nearby tanker and helicopter offered assistance and…
Two Texas school buses crashed into each other in San Antonio Monday morning near the entrance of a Texas high school. One bus driver died in the accident, and five student passengers suffered injuries. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. School bus crashes are uncommon. However, when these…
A federal judge gave final approval to a $37.5 million settlement between the manufacturers of FEMA trailers and storm victims who used the trailers following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This class of 55,000 plaintiffs claimed they were exposed to formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, while living in the trailers. In a…
A fire started on a W&T Offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico last week about 30 miles off the coast of Louisiana. The company evacuated the platform and extinguished the fire. One worker reported minor injuries. The Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)…
An 18-wheeler truck struck a pedestrian in Iberia Parish last week. The pedestrian died at the scene of the accident. The 18-wheeler driver was not injured. State police are investigating the cause of the accident. Pedestrian accidents involving 18-wheelers are especially deadly because of the heavy weight of these large…
A search is underway for a 60 year old Monroe man who went missing after a boating accident on the Ouachita River. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confirmed that the man’s boat was found on the river. By law, boat owners and boat operators have to exercise extreme care…
Florida A&M University suspended its dance team after university officials received a complaint alleging an off-campus hazing incident involving the team. The university is currently investigating the incident. Florida A&M adopted a no-tolerance hazing policy after its drum major was tragically killed last year during a band hazing ritual. Hazing-related…
Ford Motor Co. issued an international recall of nearly 500,000 Escape SUVs after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 68 complaints. These complaints included reports of 13 accidents and one fatality. The recall includes the 2001 to 2004 model year Escapes. The NHTSA says the problem is linked to…
An 18-wheeler driver lost control of his truck on Interstate 10 recently, crashing into the retaining wall. According to authorities, the driver refused to cooperate with the police in determining the cause of the accident. The police later determined the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident. There…
An SUV driver struck a bicyclist riding his bike late Monday night in Baton Rouge. The bicyclist died at the scene of the accident. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Due to its large size and weight, a vehicle can cause serious and even fatal injuries to a…