June 29, 2008

AUSTELL, Ga. – A teenager was decapitated by a roller coaster after he hopped a pair of fences and entered a restricted area yesterday at Six Flags Over Georgia, authorities said.

Six Flags officials are uncertain why the unidentified 17-year-old from Columbia, S.C., scaled two 6-foot fences and passed signs that said the restricted area was off-limits and dangerous to visitors, spokeswoman Hela Sheth said in a news release.

Authorities were investigating reports from witnesses who said the teenager jumped the fences to retrieve a hat he lost while riding the Batman roller coaster, said Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce.

Police said the ride was going full-speed when the teen was struck. The ride's top speed is 50 mph, according to the Six Flags Web site.

No one riding on the roller coaster was injured, Sheth said. The teen's friend also entered the restricted area but was not injured, Pierce said.

Associated Press

Ark. mayor wanted in shelter dogs' release

HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. – An Arkansas mayor who ordered 10 Humane Society dogs let loose in a national forest is wanted on animal cruelty charges after a special judge issued an arrest warrant.

The warrant was issued Friday for Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley. Circuit Judge David Henry found reasonable cause to arrest him over accusations that he obstructed the Humane Society of Southeastern Arkansas from caring for the animals.

Valley told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he released the dogs 2½ weeks ago in the St. Francis National Forest after residents complained that the makeshift animal shelter at the city's sanitation department was inadequate. The shelter consisted of nothing more than cages, he said.

The mayor told the newspaper that he didn't commit a crime and that the city couldn't afford to properly care for the animals.

“I look forward to my day in court,” the mayor said.

Associated Press

Prisoner van crash kills two inmates

EL DORADO, Ark. – The driver of a private security van ferrying prison inmates through southern Arkansas fell asleep behind the wheel, causing a crash that killed two prisoners and injured four others, authorities said.

A 43-year-old Texas man was driving a van for U.S. Extradition Service Inc. when he dozed off early Friday, the Arkansas State Police said.

Cpl. Jeff Hust told the El Dorado News-Times that prisoners began screaming, “Boss! Boss!” and that another guard grabbed the wheel but overcorrected. The van struck a culvert and went airborne, rolling twice before stopping.

Shawn Talbot, 29, of Ladysmith, Wis., and Walter Ridley, 47, of Clarendon, Ark., died at the scene.

Seven inmates and two guards were in the van, which was on its way to Little Rock. Both guards were wearing seat belts; the inmates were unsecured in the back of the van.

Associated Press

50,000 lack power after deadly storm

OMAHA, Neb. – Nebraska's largest city struggled yesterday to restore power to thousands of residents a day after a severe storm damaged homes, uprooted trees and killed two people in a neighboring community.

It could take a week to fully restore electricity after high winds from Friday's storm, officials said. The storm is one of the worst the Omaha Public Power District has dealt with, said CEO Gary Gates.

Nearly 50,000 customers remained without power yesterday afternoon, utility spokesman Jeff Hanson said. At the peak of the failures, 126,000 customers lacked electricity.

Some customers might not have power restored until Saturday, Gates said.

Associated Press

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