Hours after an explosion turned part of the South Fork development in Ewing Township, N.J. into a war zone, Terry Myers was standing among the debris, capturing the scene. But he wasn’t using a camera, rather a laser to record every inch of the ruins.
“It was from the standpoint of let’s collect, let’s memorialize if you will, that scene and then down the road if somebody wants to know ‘Where did this piece of debris wind up? Or ‘Where was this excavation? Or ‘Where was this machinery?’, we have that all documented,” he said.
A forensic investigator with Abington, Pa.-based DJS Associates, Myers is frequently one of the first people on the scene of tragic events like the March 4 blast that killed a homeowner and injured seven utility workers.
Government agencies, insurance companies and defense attorneys from across the country deputize DJS to preserve the evidence left behind incidents ranging from fatal car crashes to slips and falls to building collapses like last summer’s deadly failure along Market Street in Philadelphia.
A staff of engineers take the data collected by investigators like Myers, using physics and that digitized physical evidence, to determine how an incident happened, says Steven Schorr, the company’s president.
“The fact of the matter is that the foundation of any reconstruction, whether it’s the reconstruction of how a building collapsed, whether it’s the reconstruction of a traffic accident, it all begins with the physical evidence that’s left,” he said. “If you can figure out how it happened, then the whys follow that.”
The 53-year-old firm, founded by Schorr’s father in 1961, has even investigated how bugs wound up inside a candy bar.
When the expertise needed doesn’t fit into the in-house team’s wheelhouse, Schorr says they bring in outside experts. DJS is currently having a chemist analyze the material used in a popular exercise band, which has reportedly resulted in serious burns on a number of wearers.
A LASER FOCUS
The DJS team uses a sophisticated set of tools to take a snapshot, with great detail, of the physical evidence at the scene.
What in the past would be done with a surveyor’s wheel and level, is now a laser imaging system that maps a scene -- capturing tire tracks, trees, telephone poles and any other important evidence in a matter of minutes any time day or night.
“The entire machine rotates, and while it’s rotating, the laser is spinning. And while it’s spinning, it’s collecting thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of points a second,” Myers said. “That laser scanner allows me to bring that site, on a laptop, back into the office so [the engineers] can analyze the physical evidence.”
These digital composites, which the firm has been creating since 2003, are then used in court to demonstrate how an accident happened, Schorr says. A combination of these maps, which resemble heat imaging, superimposed photographs and Google maps can be packaged together to recreate an incident for the judge and jury.
“So visually, if I can show them ‘Here’s our scan. Here’s how well our scan matches up to the Google Earth. Our scan is three-dimensions, let’s get in there and see the wires, see the mailbox, see the telephone pole’ and just those things…brings understanding,” Schorr said.
THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM
The DJS folks say the technology is no replacement for the work done by its engineers and investigators, but the high-resolution imaging helps to provide the clearest picture possible.
Schorr recalled a recent case, which he was unable to provide more detail about due to client restrictions, where a girl was struck and killed along a New Jersey roadway.
He said the girl’s family was convinced she was walking on the shoulder of the road when hit. However, Schorr said, the data collected at the scene helped to determine that just wasn’t the case.
“The physical evidence on the roadway established very clearly that the only way that the pedestrian could have gotten to her point of rest…was if she was in the middle of the roadway at the time. Isaac Newton would be spinning in his grave if someone came to say she was walking on the shoulder at the time,” he said. “It would have been very nice to make them feel better, but the physical evidence said otherwise."
NOT JUST TRAGEDY
While there are plenty of high-profile incidents that result in the loss of life, limb or physical harm, DJS has also begun to use its scanning tools for less macabre projects.
Construction companies and architects have tasked the firm to record phases of the building process. Schorr says the contractors want proof that walls are in the correct place and piping was done correctly.
Historic preservation is another area where the technology has been utilized. DJS teamed up with preservation organization CyArk to map, digitize and preserve the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Beth Sholom Synagogue in Cheltenham, Pa. in 2012.
The Lincoln Memorial on The National Mall is the current project. Over two days, crews took 70 scans and countless high-resolution photographs of the monument from many angles – while it remained open to the public.
“While we were doing our work, people are milling around and the scanner scans those people. But we scanned from so many different vantage points that we ultimately get those points on the pillars, on the statues that you’re looking for because we have that overlap there,” Myers said.
A large scale job, DJS will be heading back down to Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks to finish scanning in the memorial – including its large basement, which most people don’t know even exists.
“Down in the basement of the Lincoln Memorial, they actually have things written on some of the pillars. The builders actually drew cartoons and they have them covered in Plexiglas. At one point, they said they used to allow the public down there, but they don’t let people down there anymore,” Schorr said.
The finished scans, overlaid with the high-definition images, which DJS provides to CyArk free of charge, will then be placed online, just like Beth Shalom, for people all around the world to virtually explore.
“We’re very excited about finishing up that project and if everything goes well, we’ll hopefully be joining them on other projects there on the Mall,” Schorr said.
Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.
Three people are in the hospital after a suspected DUI crash on Roosevelt Boulevard early Saturday morning.
Investigators say a car crashed in the northbound lanes of the Boulevard near Adams Avenue in Feltonville around 2 a.m.
Three people, including the driver, were injured in the crash. A passenger, a man in his 20’s, is currently in critical condition. Both the driver, a 25-year-old man, and the second passenger, a 25-year-old woman, are in stable condition.
Police say the 25-year-old driver is in custody for suspected DUI.
Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.
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A man is recovering after police say he was shot and robbed in the West Kensington section of the city.
The 25-year-old man was on North Mascher and East Thompson Streets early Saturday morning when he was approached by two gunmen.
The suspects allegedly took the man’s wallet and shot him in the left thigh.
Police say the suspects then drove off in a late 90’s, green Ford Explorer.
The victim was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is in stable condition.
Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.
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A Delaware man was arrested and charged with his 12th DUI after he allegedly fled the scene of a crash.
On Friday, at 7:25 p.m., Delaware State Troopers received a report of a driver walking away from a crash on Nine Foot Road in Dagsboro, Delaware.
The responding troopers found a 1998 Ford Mustang that had driven off the road. Investigators say the Troopers then found the driver, 55-year-old James Fisher, hiding behind the bushes nearby.
Fisher was not injured in the single-car crash, according to officials.
Police say Fisher was under the influence of alcohol and he was taken into custody. A check of his criminal history revealed Fisher had 11 prior DUI convictions before Friday’s incident.
Investigators also say Fisher’s driver’s license was suspended and his vehicle was not properly registered.
After he was detained, Fisher was allegedly uncooperative and refused to be photographed and fingerprinted. He was charged with felony DUI, failure to comply with taking photographs and fingerprints and other related offenses.
Fisher was committed to Sussex Correctional institution on $21,650 cash bail.
A Delaware County woman was arrested after police say her young son was found wandering the streets alone.
On Friday, around 8:45 a.m., police responded to the 700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in the Garden City section of Nether Providence for a report of a small child walking around the neighborhood in a t-shirt and shorts. The temperature was only 28 degrees at the time.
When police arrived, the caller directed them to a home on Pennsylvania Avenue where they spotted a front door open and heard a boy yelling. Police found the 3-year-old boy and determined that he had been left alone at the house.
The child was taken to the Nether Providence Police Department and officials with Children and Youth Services were contacted.
Shortly before 10 a.m., police found the boy’s mother, 32-year-old Shavon Buckley. Buckley was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.
Buckley’s 3-year-old son as well as her other child were both placed in the care of a relative.
A State Trooper was arrested and charged for allegedly harassing his ex-girlfriend.
Andrel Martinez, 38, was arrested on Friday after police say he intimidated and stalked his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child.
Last January, the 34-year-old woman told police that Martinez had unlawfully accessed her criminal history as well as information about her family. Investigators say they confirmed the woman’s allegations after reviewing records from the Delaware Justice Information System (DELJIS) as well as queries allegedly conducted by Martinez.
Officials say they continued to review Martinez’s DELJIS inquiries and discovered several violations not related to an active police investigation.
Through further investigation and interviews, police say they discovered Martinez was in a relationship with the woman but that the two broke up in March of 2013. Police also say they have a 1 ½ year-old child together. After the split, Martinez allegedly made several harassing and intimidating visits, text messages, emails, and phone calls to the woman over an 8-month period.
After further investigation, Martinez was placed on suspension. He was then arrested on Friday and charged with official misconduct, stalking, harassment, knowingly and wrongfully obtaining criminal history record information and other related offenses.
He was arraigned and released on $62,000 unsecured bone and ordered not to contact his ex-girlfriend.
Prior to his suspension and arrest, Martinez was assigned to Delaware State Police Troop 7 Lewes, Uniform Patrol Division with the rank of Master Corporal. He is a 15-year veteran of the Delaware State Police.
Students are getting a shot at the small screen as a local college is the scene of a new TV show’s pilot episode.
Production crews have set up at Ursinus College this weekend to shoot the show’s first episode, according to The Mercury.
The show has the working title “How to Get Away With Murder.”
Shonda Rhimes, best known for the television series “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “Private Practice,” will be producing the new show, says the Mercury.
Two-time Academy Award nominee and The Help actress Viola Davis stars in the new show as a professor. Her students become entangled in a murder plot, according to a press release from the Ursinus College. Matt McGrorry of Orange is the New Black is also casted.
Buzz has exploded all over campus as some of the students have been selected as extras.
One of the student extras is Marquis Wilson, who is part of the 2015 class at Ursinus College and is studying media, communications and theater.
“This is a possible resume builder for me. I can say I’ve been in this environment, worked in this environment,” Wilson said. “Because this is something I want to do, something I want to take hold of and see how far I can venture.”
Students were given the information about the show via email and had to reply in order to be an extra. About 50-100 students were selected, said Wilson.
Being on the set around the stars may sound like fun, but Wilson says you also must follow direction, be ready to be active, and utilize the acting skills you have.
“You want to engage it at a high level; you can’t be too good for a supporting role or being an extra,” said Wilson. “Anything in this business is an opportunity.”
While the set is closed to the public, the film crew will be visible on the campus today and tomorrow.
A St. Patrick's Day celebration in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia spiraled out of control and required police to respond multiple times to contain the unruly crowd.
Cops were first called to the scene near Frankford and Cottman avenues around 7:20 p.m. to disperse the large group of people.
But, less than 30 minutes later, authorities had to return to the scene when a fight broke out at the Hammerheads Bar & Grille on the 3500 block of Cottman Avenue, according to reports.
Several revelers were taken into custody and police were able to get the disorderly crowd under control around 7:50 p.m.
But the throngs of people continued to cause problems in the area forcing police to return to the neighborhood just a few blocks away at Frankford and Tyson avenues around 8:20 p.m., according to reports.
There were no reports of injuries.
Five people were hurt when three vehicles collided in North Philadelphia Saturday night.
Several ambulances were on the scene of Castor Avenue and Wingohocking Street in the Juniata section of the city when the accident occurred around 8:15 p.m., according to reports.
Rescuers transported five people to Albert Einstein Medical Center and Temple University Hospital.
Officials say all the victims suffered minor injuries.
A firefighter was hurt Saturday when a blaze caused part of a building to collapse while he was inside.
Crews responded to a fire that broke out around 5:40 p.m. in the bed of a 2013 Toyota Tacoma that was parked in a driveway on the 100 block of San Carlos Street in Berkeley Township, N.J, according to reports.
But strong winds caused the flames to move from the vehicle to a vacant home next door.
The Manitou Fire Company, which is staffed by volunteers, were battling the blaze when two firemen went inside the burning home, according to officials.
While the men were inside, part of the building structure collapsed causing one of the men to suffer a severe back and leg injury, according to authorities.
He had to be pulled from the home by his fellow crew member, before being rushed to the Jersey Shore Medical Center, officials say.
Authorities say the fireman is experiencing partial paralysis and remains in serious, yet stable condition.
The Ocean County Sheriff's Office tweeted their support to the injured man, saying:
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the injured fire fighter in Holiday City Berkeley Twp...stay strong our fellow brother!
— Ocean County Sheriff (@OceanCounty911) March 15, 2014
The other firefighter also endured a minor back injury and was transported to the Community Hospital in Toms River, N.J.
Crews got the blaze under control around 6:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
One person is dead after a shooting in Bucks County Saturday night.
Police are on the scene of the fatal shooting on the 700 block of Limekiln Road in Doylestown.
Stay with NBC10 for more on this developing story.
A Philadelphia Police Officer faces charges in Montgomery County following a fight with her boyfriend Thursday.
Authorities in Cheltenham Township charged 35-year-old Robbi Huff with simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest after officers responded to a domestic dispute on Arboretum Road near Rock Creek Drive in Cheltenham, according to reports.
She will go before Judge Christopher Cerski on March 24 for a preliminary hearing, court records show.
Huff had been arrested at least once before by Cheltenham Township Police.
Authorities charged the Philly cop with disorderly conduct in September 2012, but the case was dismissed, according to court records.
A new Miss Philadelphia has been crowned and the lucky lady is a Philly native.
Diamond Edmonds, 24, was named Miss Philadelphia 2014 at a pageant held Saturday evening at the Levitt Auditorium at the University of the Arts.
Edmonds, who wowed the judged with her tap dance routine, plans to work with the organization Mentoring the Stars of the Future during her reign.
Next up for the Millersville University graduate, the Miss Pennsylvania pagaent that takes place in Pittsburgh in June.
Two women are recovering after a house fire in the Overbrook section of the city.
The fire broke out at a 3-story home around 1 a.m. on the 900 block of Wynnewood Road. Investigators say two women were inside the house at the time.
One woman managed to get herself out of the home. The second woman was trapped inside the bedroom on the second floor and had to be rescued by firefighters.
Both women were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where they are in serious but stable condition.
Officials say there was smoke damage at a neighboring home though the family who lives there was not displaced.
Officials continue to investigate the cause though they say it does not appear suspicious.
Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.
Police say a driver who struck a pedestrian and then tried to help the victim was struck by a hit-and-run driver moments after exiting his vehicle.
Officials say the driver was traveling in a white van in the eastbound lanes of Admiral Wilson Boulevard shortly after 3 a.m. in Pennsauken, New Jersey when he struck a pedestrian, 31-year-old Victor Gutierrez, who later died from his injuries.
The driver stopped at the scene and, as he got out of the van to help, police say another vehicle struck him and then fled the scene.
The vehicle that fled the scene left behind its passenger side view mirror, which is gray-colored and broke off during the hit-and-run, according to officials.
Investigators say that vehicle may be a 2002 to 2006 Ford or Mercury product, possibly a Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or sees a vehicle matching the descirption is asked to call the Pennsauken Police Department's Traffic Division at 856-488-0080, extension 2300.
The driver of the van who tried to help was taken to the hospital. Police have not yet revealed his or her condition.
The eastbound lanes of Admiral Wilson Boulevard were shut down from Baird Boulevard to Airport Circle for several hours. They have since been reopened.
