News & Editorials from Merlin

December 9, 2008 (by Otto Smyth)

According to reports by San Diego aviation accident attorneys, an F-18 flown by a Marine pilot crashed Monday into a San Diego neighborhood.

The Marines have released a statement that the pilot had ejected safely from the F-18 prior to the crash in which three people were killed and three homes set on fire. While the three victims have been identified by Reverend Kevin Lee of the Korean United Methodist Church there are cadaver dogs searching for a forth body in the aftermath. The victims have been identified as Young Mi Yoon, her mother Suk Im Kim, who was visiting from Korea and her 2-month-old daughter Rachel. The cadaver dogs are searching for Yoon’s 15-month-old daughter Grace in the rubble.

The F-18 crashed when both engines failed during its decent to land at Miramar’s Camp Kerney, which is where the Navy’s Top Gun fighter pilot school was once conducted, causing the jet to crash in the neighborhood of University City.

The Navy has stated that it is too early in the investigation to determine what caused the crash. According to Marine Corporal Francis Goch the F/A-18 D Hornet was returning after training and the pilot radioed the air traffic control to report a problem. The pilot then ejected from the plane. Goch also stated that it is to early for the cause to be known for the crash and it is possible the answer will be found in the wreckage.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor stated the plane crashed in the vicinity of the 805 Interstate approximately two miles from the base where it was scheduled to land.

Spokesman Maurice Luque of the Fire Department stated three homes were destroyed and firefighters were attended the crash site, hosing down the smoking debris approximately 3½ hours after the crash.

A statement by Mayor Jerry Sanders stated that there were approximately twenty homes which were evacuated near the crash site and was unsure when the residents would be permitted to return to their homes. If you are curious about potential lawsuits, please contact airplane accident lawyers at 888-400-9721.

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Four people were killed in a September 29, 2008 night jet crash in West Columbia, S.C. According to reports by the Lexington County Coroner, and aircraft accident attorneys, the jet crashed while taking off at the Columbia S.C. airport. The pilot and co-pilot died from smoke inhalation and burns and two passengers were killed on impact.

Travis Barker, the former Blink-82 drummer and a celebrity disc jockey DJ AM were also severely injured in the crash but are recovering after being taken to the hospital.

Sarah Lemmon, the pilot and James Bland, the co pilot were killed as well as Chris Baker and Charles Still, both were working with the musicians. Federal officials said that the crew was trying to abort the take off because they heard a loud noise they took to be a tire blow out. All four casualties were from California.

The National Transportation Safety board reported that the cockpit voice recording indicated that the crew was trying to abort the takeoff at the time of the crash. The jet crashed at the end of the runway and exploded into flames. The plane was traveling at least 92 mph at the time the crew thought they heard the tire blow out and try to stop.

An expert on aviation said that a Lear-jet needs a minimum of 5,000 feet of runway space for takeoff and they were almost out of runway at the time they tried to abort. The musicians were heading for Van Nuys, California and were passengers on the Lear jet that was owned by Global Exec Aviation. The California based company had been in operation since last year.

Barker and DJ AM Goldstein were found near the wreckage as they tried to put out the fire that was burning their clothes. Barker suffered burns to his torso and lower body and DJ AM, Adam Goldstein was burned on his scalp and upper arm. Burn injuries can take a year or more to fully heal. Barker and Goldstein had both performed at the MTV music video awards earlier this month.

BREAKING NEWS, Los Angeles Metro Rail Crashes into Bus Today!

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September 12, 2008 (by Otto Smyth)

According to Metrolink injury lawyers in Chatsworth, More information is becoming available in the Cathsworth Metrolink crash, it is now known that the freight train involved in the crash was a Union Pacific freight train.

In a statement from Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor of Los Angeles there have been ten confirmed deaths and approximately between 30 and 40 people injured, confirmed by Lt. John Romero of the Los Angeles Police Department. Both fear the death toll may rise as high as twenty.

It has also been reported that one of the train crash fatalities was a Los Angeles Police Department officer, the officers name has not been released.

Chief Dennis Barry of the Los Angeles Fire Department held a news conference at approximately 8:40 to release some of the details about the crash that occurred about 4:20 p.m. He stated that firefighters setup a triage at the Stoney Point Park in the vicinity of the 118 Freeway. He also confirmed the crash occurred in the vicinity of Rinaldi Street and east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and west of Canoga Avenue.

There were 250 firefighters at the scene of the crash, they were assisted by police and civilians in extracting the victims from the Metrolink passenger train.

He also confirmed that there is a hazardous material condition due to the leaking of fuel from the trains.

Sheriff Lee Baca has confirmed that there was a uniformed deputy sheriff aboard the train and sounded the alarm during the crash, this officer was uninjured. He also stated that presently the County Sheriff’s Department is assisting the city while the rescue is continuing.

Denise Tyrell the spokes person for Metrolink stated that the train involved in the crash was number 111 and its usual route is from Union Station in Los Angeles and travels to Moorpark in Ventura County. Metrolink has set up an emergency hotline for family members.

A Union Pacific spokes person confirmed they have not had contact with anyone from the scene and their train carried a conductor and an engineer. newspersonal injury attorney los angeles.