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Although the nation's highway fatality rate is dropping and alcohol-related crashes are down slightly, SUV deaths and motorcycle fatalities are up. Overall, 42,800 people died on the nation's highways in 2004, up slightly from 42,643 in 2003, according to projected 2004 data compiled by the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The number of people killed in SUVs and in rollovers rose last year despite the overall highway fatality rate falling to the lowest level ever, NHTSA said.

Fleeing Truck Crashes, Killing Six Sunday, October 17, 2004 Associated Press PHOENIX — A stolen truck filled with suspected illegal immigrants and speeding away from deputies rolled over at a busy intersection near an Army post Saturday, causing an 11-car crash that killed six people and seriously injured 15, sheriff's officials said. Passengers were thrown out of the truck bed as the truck hit a center median and began to spiral, hitting vehicles waiting at a turn lane, said Deputy Chief Randy Redmond of the Sierra Vista (search) Fire Department. Investigators think the truck was traveling at about 90 mph...

We all have an impression of what constitutes a dangerous job. Usually we base our feelings on three types of information. First, what we actually experience, since we all face various hazards during our daily tasks. Second, we all read and watch news accounts of mishaps. Third, we see different lists, charts and graphs that depict who gets killed and how frequently. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released one snapshot, based on 2002 data of on-the-job fatalities per 100,000 workers. The verdict: people who cut down trees, with a rate of 118 deaths per 100,000 workers. This is more...

A 6-year-old girl was among 28 illegal border crossers found in a U-Haul truck Thursday on Interstate 10 about 10 miles north of Tucson, officials said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents spotted the truck about 5:30 p.m. headed north on I-10 after receiving a tip that a large group of illegal entrants was being transported from Tucson in the rental truck. A Marana Police Department officer pulled the vehicle over, and when federal agents arrived they found the 28 people crowded into the 10-foot-long cargo area. Eight of the illegal entrants were juveniles, including three who were traveling alone....

Flu May Be Worst in Decades for U.S. Kids By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: December 17, 2003 Filed at 9:52 p.m. ET The current flu outbreak may be the worst for young U.S. children in several years, some experts say, comparing it in Western states to the Hong Kong flu of 1968-69. A government epidemiologist and other disease doctors predict flu deaths among babies and toddlers will exceed the estimated 92 who die in an average flu year. ``We would expect that number would be higher in a season like this. It would be more than 92,'' said Dr. William...

Published 8/7/2003 6:13 PM WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The father of a soldier who died of pneumonia this spring said Thursday the Army has excluded her death from its investigation of deadly pneumonia because it wants to cover up vaccine side effects. "The government is covering this up and it is a dog-gone shame," said Moses Lacy, whose daughter, Army Spc. Rachael Lacy, died April 4 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after getting pneumonia. Lacy said his daughter "was a healthy young woman" but got ill within days of getting anthrax and smallpox vaccinations on March 2...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army should look at whether the anthrax vaccine is behind the unexplained cluster of pneumonia cases among soldiers in Iraq, according to the co-author of a government-sponsored study that last year found the vaccine was the "possible or probable" cause of pneumonia in two soldiers. Dr. John L. Sever of George Washington University Medical School told United Press International Tuesday that he expects the military to consider the anthrax vaccine, among other possibilities, as it investigates pneumonia among soldiers in and around Iraq, where troops have been widely vaccinated against anthrax. The Pentagon...

Published 8/6/2003 12:40 PM WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The Army will consider whether the anthrax or other vaccine could be causing a cluster of pneumonia cases among soldiers in Iraq and southwestern Asia, an official said Wednesday. Col. Robert DeFraites of the Army Surgeon General's office told United Press International that the Pentagon would look into whether vaccines, among other factors, might have triggered the pneumonia that has killed two soldiers and sickened 100. "Among all of the possible causes or contributing factors, we are looking at the immunizations that the soldiers received as well," DeFraites told UPI Wednesday....

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The father of a soldier who died of pneumonia this spring said Thursday the Army has excluded her death from its investigation of deadly pneumonia because it wants to cover up vaccine side effects. "The government is covering this up and it is a dog-gone shame," said Moses Lacy, whose daughter, Army Spc. Rachael Lacy, died April 4 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after getting pneumonia. Lacy said his daughter "was a healthy young woman" but got ill within days of getting anthrax and smallpox vaccinations on March 2 in preparation for deployment...

Is the anthrax vaccine behind the recent surge in pneumonia cases among active-duty American troops, including two which led to the deaths of soldiers serving in Iraq? One medical professor thinks the United States Army should and will consider that question in its investigation. "As physicians, I would think they would be looking at all possible causes. I would think vaccines would be part of that," Dr. John Sever of George Washington University Medical School told United Press International. Sever was one of six authors of a government-sponsored study published in May 2002 that found the vaccine was the "possible...

<p>The Army will consider whether the anthrax or other vaccines could be causing a cluster of pneumonia cases among soldiers in Iraq and southwestern Asia, an official said yesterday.</p> <p>Col. Robert DeFraites of the Army Surgeon General's Office told United Press International that the Pentagon would look into whether vaccines, among other factors, might have triggered the pneumonia that has killed two soldiers and sickened 100.</p>

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army should look at whether the anthrax vaccine is behind the unexplained cluster of pneumonia cases among soldiers in Iraq, according to the co-author of a government-sponsored study that last year found the vaccine was the "possible or probable" cause of pneumonia in two soldiers. Dr. John L. Sever of George Washington University Medical School told United Press International Tuesday that he expects the military to consider the anthrax vaccine, among other possibilities, as it investigates pneumonia among soldiers in and around Iraq, where troops have been widely vaccinated against anthrax. The Pentagon...

The United States Army has dispatched a team of medical experts to Iraq to investigate a serious outbreak of pneumonia among US troops, with two dead and more than 100 ill. Lieutenant-General James Peake, the army's surgeon general, has sent a team of six to Iraq and two more doctors to Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany, where some of the troops were treated after being flown from Iraq, officials said on Friday. Army Medical Command spokeswoman Lyn Kukral said: "It is pneumonia. The question is: what is the cause?" "You've got a healthy population and a young population [of...

The US Army has dispatched a team of medical experts to Iraq to investigate a spate of serious pneumonia cases among its troops. Military officials say two soldiers have died of the pneumonia and more than 100 are ill. Army medical authorities say they are concerned because the pneumonia is attacking healthy, young soldiers, which means it is likely to be a virulent strain. Authorities say there is no evidence of chemical, biological, or environmental toxins involved in the troops' illness, and SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] has also been ruled out. See also http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/956369/posts

Scores Killed As Blast Rocks Nigeria By DULUE MBACHU, Associated Press WriterLAGOS, Nigeria - A blast rocked the heart of Nigeria's commercial capital Sunday, killing as many as 50 people, witnesses and local radio reported. The explosion occurred about 12:30 p.m. on Lagos Island, the center of the business district of this city of 12 million. It tore through a three-story building, in a blast that could be heard for miles. Resident Omololu Kassim, who was helping carry the victims, told The Associated Press he saw 40 dead and as many injured. Radio stations reported up to 50 killed. Crowds...

Twister strikes Morgan CountyThree feared dead, others missingBy J.J. Stambaugh, News-Sentinel staff writerNovember 11, 2002At least three people were thought to have been killed and many more injured Sunday night in Morgan County when a tornado touched down in the Mossy Grove community, authorities said. At least 20 buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged. Authorities said several people were feared missing, and a number of people may have been trapped in storm-damaged structures. Emergency management officials, hampered by downed phone lines in Morgan County, struggled to calculate the extent of the damage. Rains also hindered crews' efforts to assess the...

Cedar Grove - More than two dozen vehicles were involved in a deadly, fiery crash on a foggy interstate highway Friday morning, the Wisconsin State Patrol says. Sheboygan County Sheriff's Capt. Dave Adams said there were fatalities in the accident, but it was too early to know how many. Authorities had no immediate word on other injuries. Sheriff's authorities closed parts of Interstate 43 near the Sheboygan-Ozaukee county line after the 7:30 a.m. accident. The accident involved at least 25 vehicles in both the southbound and northbound lanes, according to the State Patrol. At least eight vehicles were on fire,...

Multiple cars in fiery, fatal I-43 crash Journal Sentinel, Associated Press Cedar Grove - More than two dozen vehicles were involved in a deadly, fiery crash on a foggy interstate highway Friday morning, the Wisconsin State Patrol says. Sheboygan County Sheriff's Capt. Dave Adams said there were fatalities in the accident, but it was too early to know just how many. Authorities had no immediate word on other injuries. Sheriff's authorities closed parts of Interstate 43 near the Sheboygan-Ozaukee county line after the 7:30 a.m. accident. The accident involved at least 25 vehicles in both the southbound and northbound lanes,...

Building collapse, fire at huge printing plant Journal Sentinel staff Last Updated: July 12, 2002 Lomira, Wis - A portion of a building at the Quad/Graphics plant in Lomira collapsed Friday night, leading to a massive fire at the largest single printing facility in the Western Hemisphere, authorities said.The building was reported to have collapsed about 9:30 p.m. at the plant complex, located at 952 Badger Road, said company spokeswoman Claire Ho.Ho could not confirm a report from the Dodge County Sheriff's Department that injuries and fatalities were possible but said a number of workers from the plant's second shift...