Quantcast
Channel: Local – NBC10 Philadelphia
Viewing all 60465 articles
Browse latest View live

Family Needs Help to Send Body of Girl Killed in Fire Home

0
0

The family of a 6-year-old girl who died tragically in a Norristown house fire that also claimed the lives of her sister and two others is struggling to come up with the money to send the girl's body back home to Mexico for a proper burial.

Now, they're turning to the public for help, trying to raise $20,000 for Yaritza Vinalay Pineda's funeral in Mexico via a GoFundMe page.

Yaritza died at Albert Einstein Medical Center on Saturday after a fire tore through the twin home on the 800 block of Dekalb Street in the early-morning hours. The fire reached two alarms.

Officials said on Tuesday that Yaritza's sister, 11-year-old Jennifer Vinalay, died overnight of injuries she suffered in the fire -- so the family will likely need to send both girls' bodies to Mexico for burials.

Elepidio Fuentes Lopez, 74, also died in the fire. A fourth victim, also an adult who has not been identified, was found dead inside the home along with Lopez.

The four Norristown victims are among seven people who died in fires in the region Saturday, according to the American Red Cross. The other two deadly fires occurred in South and West Philadelphia.

Investigators said the Norristown fire appeared to have originated on the enclosed porch of the home. They do not believe it started under suspicious circumstances.

Family members were devastated at the loss of the little girls and the two others who died in the fire.

Manuel Irizarry, Lopez's son, described his father as the family’s patriarch.

"We're gonna miss him and we're gonna love him," Irizarry said. "We're here as a family. He liked to play cards, sports and be with the family."

Lopez is not related to Jennifer and Yaritza. It's unclear whether the fourth victim is related to the girls or to Lopez. Neighbors told NBC10 that the little girls' father frantically tried to save them during the fire.

"He was yelling for help and for us to call 9-1-1," said Marco Vargas, a witness.



Photo Credit: Family Photos

Crash Snarls Boulevard in NE Philly

0
0

A crash reportedly involving five vehicles on the southbound lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia has left traffic in that direction crawling by the scene during Monday rush hour.

One lane of the inner drive on the boulevard near Woodward Street is getting by the crash. There is no immediate details available about injuries.

At least three cars were seen damaged at the crash site shortly after the 4 p.m. incident.

Check back for more details.



Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Long-Lost Rembrandt Turns Up in NJ

0
0

A painting found in a New Jersey basement last year turned out to be a long-lost Rembrandt painting, according to the auction house that sold it.

The painting, later determined to be "An Allegory of The Sense of Smell" created by the artist in 1625, was found in a home in Bloomfield after the couple that owned the home died, according to Nye & Company, which sold the painting.

The couple’s children didn’t want the painting, so they called Nye & Company to put it to auction.

The auction house said it didn’t know the painting was a Rembrandt because it was so old and dusty that the artist’s signature was obscured. 

Thinking it was a 19th century copy, appraisers valued the painting to be worth between $500 and $800, according to reports at the time. 

But an art dealer knew better after bidding opened at $250 and ended up buying the painting for $870,000 before having it restored.

The painting has since been sold to American art collector Thomas Kaplan and is being put on display at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

"We are truly thrilled that the first museum to exhibit Rembrandt’s earliest known signed work, An Allegory of The Sense of Smell and its companions is the Getty," said Kaplan.

The painting is part of a set of five works depicting the five senses. Three of the other paintings in the set are at other museums, and the fifth -- which depicts the sense of taste -- is still missing, according to the Getty Museum.



Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Getty Museum
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

SEPTA Bus Strikes, Kills Bicyclist in Philadelphia

0
0

A bicyclist died late Tuesday morning after being struck by a SEPTA bus, officials confirmed.

SEPTA officials said the 44-year-old man was riding a bicycle near Orthodox Street and Aramingo Avenue in the city's Frankford section when a Route J bus collided with him about 11:45 a.m.

The man died as a result of his injuries, officials said. SEPTA and Philadelphia Police accident-investigation officers are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.

No passengers were on the bus at the time.

SEPTA services in the area were running normally shortly before 2 p.m.

Another bicyclist was critically injured early Tuesday morning in a hit-run in West Philadelphia.



Photo Credit: Google Earth

Woman Dead on Route 55 Died in Crash, Not Hit-Run: Police

0
0

Police in New Jersey say there will be no charges for a driver who ran over a woman's body on Route 55 in Deptford Township Friday morning, because the woman was already dead when the car ran over her.

The victim, Anabel Aponte, 32, died when her car ran off the road and hit several trees in the median, authorities said. Aponte was ejected in the crash and died on the roadway, according to police.

As her body lay on the road, officials said, another driver struck her -- but she was already dead at the time, a medical examiner determined.

Police initially believed Aponte had exited her car after crashing it in search of help, and was then struck by a passing driver in a hit-and-run.



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Inmate Sets Fire Inside Montco Prison

0
0

Firefighters were called to the state prison in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Tuesday night to douse a blaze set by an inmate, county officials said.

The fire was started in a cell around 6:30 p.m. at the correctional facility along 1 Prison Road in Skippack Township, officials said.

One inmate was hurt in the fire, officials said. A medical helicopter was dispatched to medevac the prisoner.

Officials couldn't say if the injured inmate was the same person who set the fire.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire once inside.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Suspected Serial Burglar Uses Mickey Mouse Ornament, Shovel to Break Into Montco Home

0
0

Police in Montgomery County have released new surveillance video showing an alleged burglar bust his way into a home with a shovel.

The incident happened Monday afternoon in the township’s Blue Bell section.

First, the man tries ramming through the door. When that doesn’t work, he tries to use a Mickey Mouse lawn ornament to bust through. When that failed, he found a shovel and smashed the door open. Once inside, police said he ransacked the place.

The burglary is one of three that happened Monday in the township. Police believe the same burglar is responsible for two others. He could also be responsible for break-ins in nearby towns, police said.

House That Caught Fire, Killing 4 Was Being Illegally Rented

0
0

A Norristown home where four people were killed, including two children, and five others were hurt in a raging fire was being illegally rented, town officials tell NBC10.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is leading the investigation into the Saturday morning fire. It's not clear how the home where everyone in the home was staying or whether the building was illegally broken up into apartments.


NBC10 Responds: Tech Support Warning & Refund

0
0

NBC10 Responds helps a man get a refund from his credit card company after he falls victim to a tech support scheme.

Citi's full statement:

Citi advises debit and credit card members to take precautions to safeguard themselves against scams. These include treating unsolicited calls with skepticism and never giving out credit card or personal information unless the merchant is verified.

In the case of any cardmember who is dissatisfied with his/her credit card purchase, Citi endeavors to make the dispute process simple and clear. Citi encourages cardmembers to correct the issue with the merchant; if a cardmember is still dissatisfied, cardmembers can contact Citi to launch a thorough investigation.

Finally, if a cardmember has received a call or responded to an email from someone who they now believe is illegitimate, he/she should contact the local police department immediately.

New Jersey Using Fish to Fight Mosquitoes

0
0

Concerns over the spread of the Zika virus has municipalities all over the country taking extra precautions to control the mosquito population. And in Gloucester County, New Jersey, officials are hoping to stop the disease-carrying insects from ever making it out of the waters where they breed with he help of a few fish.

The county, together with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife released on Tuesday the first of 10,000 mosquito-eating fish, called Gambusia Affinis, into 18 bodies of water countywide.

The fish will eat tiny mosquito eggs to reduce the overall mosquito population.

They are being released into landlocked, stagnant bodies of water, not ponds that run off.

Photo Credit: NBC10

NBC10 First Alert Weather: More Rainy Weather to Come

0
0

NBC10’s Chief Meteorologist Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz tells us that we still have some rainy weather to come.

Police Bike for Fallen Fellow Officers

0
0

Two hundred miles: that's how far a group of South Jersey police officers are traveling by bike to pay tribute to colleagues who died in the line of duty. NBC10’s Ted Greenberg tells why this bike ride is especially painful for one group of police officers.

A Look Inside Divine Lorraine's Transformation

0
0

A major makeover is underway for one of Philadelphia’s most historic crowned jewels. NBC10’s Lauren Mayk got an exclusive first look inside at the renovations that will make this landmark livable once again.

Congress to Vote on Athlete Opioid Bill Named for Montco Man

0
0

The John Thomas Decker Act, named for a Montgomery County native who became addicted to prescription painkillers after a sports injury, will be up for a vote before the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday.

The legislation, if passed, would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the resources and educational materials available about opioid addiction among young athletes. The agency would then publicly report the findings, including addiction treatment options, and share materials with students, parents and athletic organizations.

Young athletes are susceptible to becoming addicted to powerful painkillers like OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin while nursing sports injuries like ligament tears and broken bones.

In Generation Addicted, NBC10's in-depth investigation into the opioid and heroin epidemic, Steve Lesnikoski detailed how a high school football injury sent him into a tailspin, eventually leading to heroin use.

Heroin, a type of opioid, is a fraction of the cost of prescription painkillers which typically sell for $60 to $80 a pill on the street. It also provides a stronger high.

Drug overdoses, many from opioid and heroin use, claim more men 19 to 25 years old in Pennsylvania than any other state in the country, the CDC reports.

Decker, a college lacrosse star, was found dead by his parents inside the family's Gladwyne home in January. The 30-year-old became addicted to prescription painkillers after undergoing surgeries for a knee injury suffered while playing basketball as a teen, his father, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer, told The Philadelphia Inquirer. Like so many others who get hooked on the powerful synthetic pills, Decker turned to heroin, the father said.

Congressman Patrick Meehan (Pa.-7th) heads up the Congressional Youth Sports Caucus. He's a friend of Decker's family and introduced the bill in April.

"We need to know the dangers, first to stop a pain med for a torn ACL from becoming a dependency, and then to be able to intervene effectively before a painkiller is swapped out for heroin. It’s literally killing our kids and student-athletes," Meehan said in a statement Tuesday.

Meehan, the former Delaware County District Attorney, expects the bill to pass with bipartisan support. In addition to the Decker Act, the congressman introduced two other bills around the issue -- one that provides grants to states for using prescription drug monitoring databases and another that would establish a drug monitoring database for Medicare patients at risk for addiction.

Congress is also scheduled to vote on the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act on Friday.



Photo Credit: UIG via Getty Images

Boil Water Advisory After Water Main Break in Chesco Town

0
0

Residents in Avondale are concerned about contamination after a boil water advisory was issued following a water main break in the town. NBC10's Brandon Hudson spoke to homeowners in the town about their worries.

Officer Maced During 75 Person Melee

0
0

As some 75 women and men brawled on a North Philadelphia street Tuesday evening, a Philadelphia Housing Authority police officer was doused with pepper spray while trying to break up the fight, police said.

The fight and officer assault happened at 25th and Diamond streets in North Philadelphia around 6:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said officers were responding to a call of a stabbing at the intersection and when they arrived, found dozens of people fighting.

"There was at least 75 people on the street acting disorderly, there were many fights and most of the individuals in the crowd were females," Small said.

One person sprayed Mace in the officer's face, temporarily blinding him, Small said. He was taken to Temple University Hospital for treatment and later released. He's expected to be OK.

A woman was taken into custody for disorderly conduct, but it was not related to the pepper spraying, Small said.

It's not clear what sparked the large fight, but Small said investigators were reviewing surveillance video from a nearby business.

When Was That Pothole Repaired? Philly Might Not Know

0
0

The City of Philadelphia promises to repair most potholes, reported on city streets, within three business days. But when the NBC10 Investigators checked Streets Department records, we found potholes showing up as unrepaired for weeks, months, sometimes nearly a year.

And when we began asking questions, we discovered a problem in the department’s record-keeping that even higher-ups had not noticed.

'BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!'

The noisy jolt of hitting a pothole is familiar to most city drivers. But for Victoria Wendowski of Bridesburg, the noisy clamor lasted and lasted.

“I don’t care what time it was – one, two, three o’clock in the morning – you could hear it,” she said. "Boom, boom, boom!"

The City’s 2015 records show, the pothole on Wendowski block of Richmond Street took longer than any other to repair. It was first reported on January 22nd of last year, but it wasn’t marked as “closed” until January 12th of this year – 354 days later.

REPAIRED IN 3 DAYS? OFTEN NOT.

The NBC10 Investigators reviewed more than 8,000 request for pothole repairs, submitted by drivers and residents through the city’s 311 system last year.

We found the pothole on Wendowski’s block is not the exception.

It seemed the department was often missing its 3-day deadline. More than half of pothole requests weren’t “closed out” for at least five days, and well over one thousand were listed as taking more than 200 days.

SLOPPY RECORD-KEEPING

As the NBC10 Investigators dug deeper, the Streets Department’s own records looked even stranger.

We noticed a handful of dates -- like January 12, 2016 -- coming up again and again. That’s the day Wendowski’s pothole was reportedly “closed out.”

Crews also listed 298 other potholes – from the Northeast to South Philly – as “closed” that same day. Sometimes, we found as many as nine different potholes “closed” in the very same minute.

When we showed Acting Streets Commissioner Michael Carroll, even he hadn’t noticed the discrepancy in his team’s reports.

“We don’t even know if they’re accurate,” asked investigative reporter George Spencer.

“Well, they’re clearly not. We didn’t do that volume of potholes all over the city in one day,” admitted Carroll.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

Carroll can’t say for sure how an entire year of data was so corrupted.

Streets crews are supposed to close out 3-1-1 repair requests on the day the work is done. Carroll believes crews may’ve waited, sometimes months, and then marked hundreds of requests as “closed” at the same time.

It leave the city with no accurate record of how quickly – or how slowly – crews repaired your request.

City Councilman At-Large David Oh says the failure means leaders are unable to monitor progress or make improvements. Oh had already scheduled a hearing to press department leaders about using more efficient technology and insists the pothole repair “status quo” must end.

Acting Commissioner Carroll promised meetings with all the city’s street repair teams and fill-ins – emphasizing department rules and the responsibility to track road repairs every day, at the end of every shift. He says it’s their responsibility to the city – and to all of us driving Philly streets.

Security Enhancements Underway at NJ Facility Where Inmate Escaped

0
0

Investigators are beginning to piece together how a inmate escaped a correctional facility in South Jersey and where he went while on the run, plus how officers captured him. NBC10's Cydney Long reports.

Crews Rescue Boy From NJ Well

0
0

A teenager who sneaked into an abandoned pump house with his friends in Jersey City plunged into an abandoned well after he fell through plywood covering it, fire officials say.  

Jersey City fire officials said the teen and three others were inside the pump house near an old reservoir by Summit and Jefferson avenues when he went through the rotted plywood at about 7:30 p.m. 

Firefighters raced to stage a rope rescue, lowering one of their into the dark five-by-five foot opening. The teen was struggling in about 10 feet of water, according to Jersey City Fire Battalion Chief Henry DeGuilio. 

"He was treading water, and he did have a small pipe to hold onto to stabilize himself," said DeGuilio. 

The firefighters managed to pull the boy to safety. He was seen at the scene wrapped in a blanket, his head covered in protective gear. He gestured to his family that he was OK. 

Fire officials also issued a stern warning for the other teens who frequent the abandoned building. 



Photo Credit: NBC 4 NY

WATCH: School Bus Runs Red Light

0
0

Dashcam video recorded in New Jersey appears to show a school bus cross into a lane of oncoming traffic and blow through a red light. 

The wild maneuvers were captured on camera Thursday morning in Jersey City near Hoboken, according to Dominick Lombardo, who posted the video on social media. 

"A school bus drives on my left down a large hill on the wrong side of the road. The bus then passes my left on wrong side and runs the red light I'm stopped at while cutting into the traffic at light," Lombardo captioned the video on Instagram. "The school bus then MAKES THE CRAZIEST DECISION to go into the wrong lane again and run another light."

The footage shows the bus pass Lombardo's car, along with several other stopped vehicles, before running a red light on the wrong side of the road. The bus continues in the opposite lane of travel and crosses railroad tracks as the footage ends. 

"It was insane, completely insane," Lombardo said. 

It's not clear if any students were aboard the bus at the time, or whether authorities are aware of the video. 

"I have two boys, and if somebody told me they saw a bus do that, I'd be a real concern for that city," Lombardo said. "I would say this person has got to be removed."

NBC 4 New York has reached out to the Jersey City Police Department seeking comment. 

The company thought to own the bus told NBC 4 New York it is investigating the video. 



Photo Credit: Dominick Lombardo/Instagram
Viewing all 60465 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images