WGFA NEWS for Thursday, January 28, 2010 >
WX > A sunny Thursday, but cold. High only near 15-17. Wind chill values at -6. NW wind 10-15 mph, some gusts near 25.
– Coaches vs Cancer Friday: St. Joe-Ogden at Watseka –
> Vermilion County Sheriff’s Police are investigating a fatal truck-train collision that occurred on Danville’s north side last evening (Wed. Jan. 27th). The crash occurred at a rural crossing along West Newell Road, about half-way between Illinois route one and Bowman Road.
Vermilion County Coroner Peggy Johnson says the person killed was the 18-year-old male driver of the truck, but adds his name is being withheld pending notification of relatives.
Sheriff’s Police report the preliminary investigation shows the pick-up truck was eastbound on West Newell Road. A witness told police that as the truck approached the crossing, she saw the railroad flashers and gates activate. The witness also saw the brake lights activate on the truck. It is unknown if the truck slid into the path of the train or was trying to beat it. The location of the tragedy is just outside the Danville city limits, in the Bismarck Fire Protection District. And Bismarck Fire and Ambulance personnel responded to the call.
It was the second collision involving a freight train and a vehicle in Vermilion County in a little over a week. On January 18th a Norfolk Southern freight train struck a car along Lyon’s Road near Catlin. Sheriff’s Police say in that incident a vehicle had become stuck on the tracks when it was involved in a crash before being hit by the train. There was nobody in that vehicle when the train struck it.
> Voters going to the polls in Nevada, Newtown and Sunbury townships in Livingston County Tuesday will have propositions on their ballots to vote on that no other voters in the county will have. These will be advisory referenda only in status on the Feb. 2 ballots and are on the ballots because of an agreement reached in Livingston County Circuit Court late last year. The referenda will deal with wind energy issues.
Circuit Judge Jennifer Bauknecht conducted an emergency hearing on the issue in early December in response to a lawsuit filed against the township clerks and supervisors of Sunbury and Nevada townships.
> A fourth person has been arrested in connection with Jan. 11 armed robbery at Chatsworth. Livingston County Sheriff Robert McCarty said 43-year-old Ruben A. Mauricio of Piper City was arrested Monday afternoon on charges of interference with the judicial process and intimidation of a witness. He said Mauricio is on parole from a previous imprisonment. Mauricio surrendered to sheriff’s police on a warrant for his arrest. Officers from the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force were in Livingston County and Ford County assisting local officers in attempts to locate Mauricio.
> River Valley Metro offers FREE bus rides again today, due to the frigid temperatures.
“Your Illiana News Source” — 94.1 FM, WGFA
