Ten People Killed in California Bus Crash
by tbowen October 6, 2008
Ten people were killed and approximately 35 more were injured when a charter bus drifted off a rural California road, swerved back onto the road and then rolled into a ditch, according to published reports. The bus departed Sacramento Sunday and was headed for the Colusa Casino Resort. The crash occurred in Williams, Calif. at 6:10 p.m., officials said. The bus was approximately 10 miles from it destination. Some passengers were thrown from the bus as it rolled, and others were crushed under the vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol. None of the victims had been identified Monday. The bus had an invalid Texas …. »
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What To Do About Workplace Harassment
by vruggles October 2, 2008
If you feel you’re being harassed at work, you must act. Report the harassment to your Human Resources department, or to any manager. Ideally, your report should be in writing. Keep a copy of your complaint! Also, you should make notes of conversations including who you talked to, when, and what was said. Employees are expected to use any available reporting mechanism to attempt to internally resolve their employment issues. However, if your complaints are ignored, conditions worsen, or you are otherwise unsatisfied with your employer’s reaction, you need to contact an attorney. The experienced attorneys at The …. »
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Top 11 Safest Cars
by tbowen October 1, 2008
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named its top picks for the most crashworthy cars. Among the winners are four small cars, two midsize cars, two SUVs, one large luxury car, one small pickup and a midsize convertible. The Institute’s picks are the 2009 Honda Civic with optional electronic stability control, 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer with optional electronic stability control, 2008-09 Scion xB, 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, 2009 Volkswagen Passat, 2009 Lincoln MKS, 2009 Ford Flex, 2009 Honda Pilot, 2009 Toyota Tacoma and 2009 Volkswagen Eos. All of the winners have the best overall crash protection in their classes, the Institute said. The vehicles earned …. »
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Train Engineer Sent Text Message Seconds Before Crash
by tbowen
The engineer of a commuter train that collided with a freight train near Los Angeles last month sent a text message 22 seconds before the crash, according to federal investigators. Twenty-five people were killed and 135 others were injured in the September 12 crash in Chatsworth. Metrolink engineer Robert Sanchez sent the message after receiving a message one minute and 20 seconds before the crash, according to federal investigators who reviewed his cell phone records. Those records showed that Sanchez sent 24 messages and received 21 messages over a two-hour period during his morning shift. He sent five messages and received seven messages during his …. »
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Best Child Booster Seats
by tbowen
More than a dozen car booster seats may not do a good enough job protecting children in crashes, according to one safety organization. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety identified 13 booster seats Wednesday that do not position children well enough to fit into adult seat belts. The booster seats receiving low marks from the Institute are: the Compass B505, Compass B510, Cosco/Dorel Traveler, Evenflo Big Kid Confidence, Safety Angel Ride Ryte, Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega, Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit, Cosco Highback Booster, Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect, Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch, Evenflo Generations, Graco CarGo Zephyr and Safety 1st/Dorel Intera. At least two of …. »
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Railroad Adds Backup Engineer After Crash
by tbowen September 30, 2008
Metrolink will add a second engineer to some of its commuter trains in an effort to increase safety following a collision with a freight train that killed 25 people and injured 135 others, according to published reports. The change comes just weeks after the September 12 collision in Chatsworth in which an engineer failed to stop at a signal and collided head-on with a freight train, officials said. The measure is temporary, and Metrolink officials are working toward permanent safety improvements, the railroad said. Metrolink has been under pressure since the collision to improve its safety measures. Its board voted unanimously to appoint …. »
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Investigation into Train Crash Near Los Angeles Could Take One Year
by tbowen September 23, 2008
The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the September 12 train crash near Los Angeles could take a year to complete, officials said. Twenty-five people were killed and 135 others injured when a Metrolink passenger train collided with a freight train near Chatsworth, Calif. The NTSB’s final report will identify the likely cause of the crash and give recommendations that address other contributing factors. The agency says that, historically, 84% of its recommendations have been adopted by the railroad industry. Investigators will determine how each victim died and will also examine whether the crashworthiness of the passenger cars played a role in the deaths …. »
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Unemployment Rate Continues to Rise
by vruggles
We all hear about the struggling economy, the collapsing banks, and the potential government bailout of financial institutions. To many people, these topics, while important, are abstract and distant. However, one economic indicator hits much closer to home: unemployment. The Department of Labor reports that the unemployment rate rose from 5.7 to 6.1 percent in August, with the number of unemployed persons rising by 592,000 to 9.4 million. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 2.2 million with most of the increase occurring between May and August. If you have lost your job and feel you have been …. »
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Wireless Device Use Banned for Train Engineers
by tbowen September 19, 2008
The California Public Utilities Commission has bypassed normal procedures and imposed an immediate ban on the use of all wireless devices by certain train employees. The vote came nearly one week after 25 people were killed and at least 130 others injured when a Metrolink passenger train collided with a freight train near Los Angeles. Rail crew members including engineers, conductors and brakemen would be prohibited from using wireless devices while on duty. There is an exception for emergencies, but the train must be stopped, and the rail crew member must receive permission from superiors. The state Public Utilities Commission …. »
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