This Week In The News (09/16-09/20)

605 Freeway: Crash involving Semi Hauling Carnival Ride Shuts Down Southbound Lanes for Hours in Long Beach

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 (KABC) – All southbound lanes of the 605 Freeway in Long Beach were shut down for hours on Tuesday morning. A  semi-truck transporting a carnival ride flipped on its side after colliding with a BMW. The driver of the truck refused medical attention, but one passenger in the BMW was taken to a nearby trauma center. Hazmat crews were dispatched to tend to a large oil and gas leak following the crash. 

1 Person Dead, 1 in Critical Condition After Single-Engine Plane Crashes Into Building Rook in Torrance

Thursday, September 19, 2019 (KTLA 5) – A single-engine Cessna 177 crashed into a building in Torrance on Thursday. The fiery crash left one pilot dead and a passenger in critical condition. According to a witness that works at a nearby Acura dealership, the Cessna appeared to be flying lower than planes that routinely take off from the Torrance Municipal Airport-Zamperini Field. The witness said, “Out of nowhere,” he said, the plane “tilted to the right and just nose-dived straight toward the ground.” The pilot has extensive experience and it is unclear for the cause of the plane crash. An investigation is still ongoing. 

Surviving Crew Member Sues Conception’s Owners Over Fatal Dive Boat Fire Near Santa Cruz Island 

Thursday, September 19, 2019 (KTLA 5) – Lawsuits are starting to surface in the case of the Conception dive charter that caught fire off the coast of Santa Barbara on Labor Day, killing 34 people. Ryan Sims, one of the surviving crew members, is suing the owner’s of the dive boat. The lawsuit, filed on Sept. 12th, lists Truth Aquatics Inc., Worldwide Diving Adventures LLC and the Conception’s owner, Glen Fritzler, as defendants. This seems to be the first of many lawsuits to come in the deadly boat fire that got national news coverage. The Fritzler’s have already petitioned the court, citing the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, in an attempt to protect themselves from future litigation and financial liability. 

1 Dead, 7 Injured After Tour Bus Carrying Road Crew For Country Singer Josh Turner Crashes

Thursday, September 19, 2019 (KCAL 9) – A deadly tour bus crash occurred in Central California, injuring seven and killing one passenger. Country singer Josh Turner and his crew had just wrapped a show in Paso Robles and were heading to Washington when the crew’s tour bus plunged down an embankment. It still isn’t clear as to what caused the crash. Josh Turner and his band were not on the bus at the time. According to Cal Fire Department in San Luis Obispo, one person died, two were airlifted to a hospital with major injuries and the remaining five were taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. 

Los Angeles City Attorney Calls for Ban on Flavored Tobacco

Thursday, September 19, 2019 (NBC Los Angeles) – Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer moves to enact a citywide ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes. Vaping-related illnesses and hospitalizations continues to rise which prompted such an aggressive response from city and state politicians. Other cities have already enacted electronic cigarette bans, with moderate success. Regulating vaping advertising, as well as an all-out ban on the substances and devices themselves, seems to be the key to seeing positive results. “Flavored tobacco plays an outsized role in the vaping epidemic confronting our youth and has long been a factor in increasing demand for traditional tobacco products,” Feuer said. “Enacting a citywide ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco products is the best way to safeguard our youth and protect the general public from significant health risks.”

7-Year-Old Boy Killed, 4 Others Injured in Orange County Crash Involving Disabled Car on 241 Freeway

Updated: August 26, 2019 (KTLA 5) – A 7-year-old-boy finally succumbed to his injuries following a tragic car accident on the 241 Freeway. For reasons still unknown, Vernon Raggins’ car became disabled while driving down the freeway with his three sons. While the car was idle, another vehicle traveling at speeds upwards of 75MPH slammed into the unsuspecting family. All parties were transported to various local hospitals and treated for various injuries. One of the 7-year-old boys was later reported deceased at Orange County Global Medical Center. Anyone with additional information about this deadly crash is asked to call the California Highway Patrol, Santa Ana Office, at 714-567-6000.

Man Killed by Amtrak Train in Chatsworth was Granada Hills Resident

Thursday, September 19, 2019 (Los Angeles Daily News) – Chatsworth police have identified the man that was hit by an oncoming Amtrak train on Thursday. The incident took place in a non-pedestrian area of the 21300 block of Devonshire Street. Robert Obrikat of Granada Hills was pronounced dead at the scene. He was just 43 years old. 

What Can the Lakers Realistically Expect From Dwight Howard?

Thursday, September 19, 2019 (Forbes) – Dwight Howard is making his return to the Lakers and it has some people wondering, ‘what should we expect from him as a player?’ When asked about his role as a Laker, Dwight said, “They just want me to be the best person I can be for this team. Defense. Dominating the boards, dominating my position, helping everybody out, talking.” With ridicule and doubt still swirling stemming from his past behavior and lack of motivation, it seems that Howard is turning over a new leaf. He is hammering home the point that he would rather show the team and the fans, rather than continuing to talk about it. Whatever side you fall on, the skeptical or optimistic, it looks like we’ll have to wait for basketball season to start to see what value Dwight Howard brings to the court this season. 

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