A taxi passenger is in critical condition after the cab he was riding in collided with an ambulance in Center City early Tuesday morning.

The crash happened at 8th and Vine Streets, just off of Interstate 676 near Franklin Square, around 2:30 a.m., Philadelphia Police tell NBC10.com.

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Witnesses say the City Cab Company taxi ran a red light and hit the Jefferson LifeStar ambulance that was traveling southbound on 8th Street.

The impact of the crash sent both vehicles careening onto a concrete island. The ambulance's front end was completely smashed and the front driver side of the cab was damaged. A traffic signal was also destroyed by the impact.

• Man's Body Trapped in House After Raging Fire and Collapse

The taxi's passenger, a man in his 40s, was crticially hurt in the crash and was taken to Jefferson University Hospital, police said.

The EMS worker suffered a leg injury and the cabbie earned cuts and bruises, police said. Both were also taken to Jefferson University Hospital where they remain in stable condition.

Philadelphia Police's Accident Investigaton Divison is investigating the incident.

Despite the efforts of a neighbor and fire crews, a man was killed in a raging house fire and collapse in Wilmington. Two other people were also hurt.

The fire began around 10:30 p.m. Monday night at a single family home along the 100 block of Bird Street near Maryland Avenue in the city, Wilmington's fire chief tells NBC10.com.

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Witness Eric Mendez Lorenzo told NBC10.com he was driving down Interstate 95 when he saw the house burst into flames. He then pulled off the highway, had his friend call 911 and recorded video of the fire. "Oh my God," people exclaimed in the video as they asked whether anyone was inside.

A few minutes later police and fire crews arrived on the scene. Fire Chief Anthony Goode said three dozen firefighters doused the blaze with water, but the fire was so severe it caused part of the home to collapse. Goode said that hindered search and rescue efforts.

"We actually had to get more water onto the fire and control the collapse," Goode said. "The structures that are next to the building started to show some lean and some areas that looked like they may fall so we had to shore them up before we could get into the building."

Wilmington Police officers were able to get two women out of the home, but a man remained trapped inside.

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Neighbor Fredrick Purnell heard a woman yelling "Save my friend" as he walked outside to check on the commotion. Purnell says he ran inside the home to try and save the man, but had to turn back because the flames were too intense.

"He just kept asking me repetitively for help and I tried to grab his hands, but the way the wall, the wall was in the way I couldn't get to him," Purnell said. "I kept trying to get him to crawl closer to me and then the flame got so hot I had I had to get out of the house."

Trapped by debris, the man was killed in the blaze, Goode confirmed. Family members identified the victim as Lamotte Scales. His body remained under the rubble for hours as firefighters used robotic cameras to try and locate his body. He was recovered in the late morning.

• Taxi vs. Ambulance: Cab Passenger Critically Hurt

The two women who made it out suffered serious injuries from the fire. One woman, identified by family members as 49-year-old Francine Wallace, was rushed to Christiana Hospital. Wallace's friend, a 39-year-old woman, was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester, Pa., officials said. Their conditions have not yet been released. However, family members say Wallace suffered burns to over 80 percent of her body.

A firefighter was also taken to the hospital with a minor injury.

Neighbors tell NBC10.com they heard what sounded like an explosion when the fire began. Fire crews believe they mistook the sound of the collapse for an explosion. However, witnesses in the video sent to NBC10.com said a man could be seen pouring gasoline on the home before the fire began.

One neighbor claims the 39-year-old victim told him that a man poured gas in the home prior to the fire.

While officials have not yet released a cause, family members say they have their own theory based on what they've heard from neighbors.

"It's just speculation," said Martin Williams, Wallace's brother. But we think he[[Scales]] just went and doused the whole house in gasoline."

PHOTO: A view of the fire and collapse scene from SkyForce10 on Tuesday morning.

• Motorcyclist Killed in Crash

Nearby homes that were in danger of being damaged by the fire were inspected and deemed safe overnight. The Delaware Attorney General's Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Lamotte Scales

Check your tickets. Someone hit a lottery jackpot worth $20 million.

• WATCH: Brian Williams Raps "Baby Got Back"

The winning Pick-6 Lotto ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven on Lacey Road in Forked River, Ocean County, New Jersey.

• Morgue Mistakenly Sends Woman's Body to Med School: Lawsuit

Here are the numbers: 03, 12, 18, 34, 35, 42.

• Mother Killed While Vomiting Out Window

New Jersey Lottery Executive Director Carole Hedinger said money like this can dramatically change a person's life and that she's looking forward to meeting the lucky ticket holder.

"Financial worries have just been removed and now the winner can explore their life's drams. That's what winning the lottery is about -- giving your dreams a chance," Hedinger said in a statement.

The winning ticket is worth $20,100,000. The store where the ticket was sold will get a $10,000 bonus. 22 other players also won more than $2,400 for hitting five of the six numbers.

The Pick-6 drawing resets to $2 million for the next drawing, which is Thursday's drawing,

Safety questions are being raised after dirt piles were found under a portion of I-95 in Philadelphia.

• Turnpike Toll Hikes

Similar piles of dirt may be what caused a dangerous shift in the I-495 bridge in Delaware, which is now closed for repairs until at least Labor Day.

Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz is asking PennDot to investigate after workers in his office noticed the dirt piles on and around pillars beneath a raised section of I-95 at the Girard Avenue Interchange.

• Tilting I-495 Bridge

The dirt piles are at least 25 feet high, according to Butkovitz.  In his letter to PennDOT, Butkovitz  writes that the stockpiles can be seen from the section of Aramingo Avenue that travels under Girard Avenue adjacent to I-95.

"As you are well aware, it was reported that engineers determined that a massive dirt mound dumped next to the I-495 Bridge over the Christina River in Wilmington may have caused underground soils to shift," Butkovitz writes. "This ultimately resulted in damage to several bridge columns and forced officials to close the bridge for emergency work."

The controller asks PennDOT to provide justification for the dirt stockpiles "to ensure public safety."

A PennDOT spokesperson later reached out to NBC10, claiming the department has not yet received the letter. They also sent out the following response regarding the dirt pile:

Dirt was temporarily placed under Interstate 95 near Aramingo Avenue in late May (2014) for upcoming use as embankment material throughout the project area, including for two new bridges the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is building for Conrail as part of a $91.3 million project that is part of the I-95 Girard Avenue Interchange Improvement program.  PennDOT’s contractor began removing the dirt from underneath I-95 on June 12 and the mounds will be gone by late next week.  The short-term duration of the dirt underneath I-95 has not compromised the safety of the highway. 

ACME union workers in Pennsylvania could vote to go on strike at a meeting this weekend, as a 60-day period aimed at striking a deal with the supermarket nears its end.

• Do You Have the Winning $20M Lottery Ticket?

There has been "very slight" progress in contract negotiations between ACME and the union despite more than a dozen sessions since last month, according to Wendell W. Young, IV, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776.

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Young said the big issues -- raises, health benefits and pensions – remain major sticking points going into Sunday evening’s union meeting. Bargaining sessions are set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"My hope is that we can find a solution," Young told NBC10.com. "I’m hopeful but I’m not optimistic."

• Mother Killed While Vomiting Out Minivan Window

Union workers have gone more than 2 years without a contract extension. Young said workers have not had a raise in over 7 years, their health fund is in danger of running out of money, and the company is underfunding pensions.

ACME has said that Local 1776 healthcare costs are higher than for other union locals that represent ACME workers in other states, according to reports.

A company representative told NBC10 in a statement that "both sides are working hard" on negotiations.

"We are optimistic on reaching an agreement that is fair to our associates and positions us for success in this competitive industry," the ACME statement reads.

Back in April, ACME and Local 1776 agreed to a 60-day period for negotiations after ACME had threatened to terminate the contract.

Both sides have offered "relatively minor compromises" ahead of a June 30 deadline, Young said.
He said he couldn’t predict whether workers would vote to authorize a strike if they reject ACME’s latest offer, but he would prepare members for the possibility of a lockout. A third possibility is to continue negotiating.

ACME, whose parent company is New Albertsons Inc., operates 110 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The grocery-store company employs 10,000 people.

Local 1776 represents some 2,900 ACME workers in Pennsylvania.
 

An environmentally friendly real estate developer is nearly finished building two quirky, or better-yet corky, homes in Philadelphia that are the first of their kind in the country.

• Consumer Alert: Beware of Exploding Wine Bottles

"We are always looking for new ways to be innovative and use new materials instead of just plain old brick and stucco," said Philly-based Postgreen Homes’ President Chad Ludeman.

Located in the city’s Kensington neighborhood, Postgreen’s Pop Project is two 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath homes at 2037 and 2039 Blair St. that have a unique cork façade, which also acts as insulation for the nearly 2,000-square-foot homes.

• I-95 Safety Questions Raised

"You have the cork, which is three inches thick, then you have your frame wall with your water barrier and sheeting on the inside. Then you are insulating on the inside," described Ludeman. "It is very labor intensive."

But the extra work needed to incorporate the high-density, pressed sheets of cork sets Postgreen apart from other local developers that focus solely on energy efficiency.

"It is very sustainable," he said. "It is a natural product that has a negative carbon footprint. Even the way it’s produced has very little waste."

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Architecture firm Orange Concept did not include the façade on the ground floor's exterior to avoid damage from passers-by. Cork, which can sustain wind, rain and other natural elements, creates a stronger sound barrier than more commonly used materials and reduces heating and cooling costs since it super insulates the homes, Ludeman said.

"Our typical home has about half the energy bills of a normal, code-built, new construction house," he said.

But there is one potential caveat -- the color may vary with the season.

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"They will get darker again over the winter and turn an orange hue next spring and summer," Ludeman said. "It’s a natural material, so each panel fades a bit differently as well."

While the unique design makes the Philly firm a trailblazer in green building nationwide, buyers have yet to uncork their wallets for the unprecedented residences. Prices were recently reduced from $415,000 to $399,000.

"They are so ahead of the curve in their niche," said Stephanie Somers, a realtor with the Somers Team at RE/MAX Access. "There is a small buyer pool that understands that."

• Mother Killed While Vomiting Out of Minivan Window

The price point, which is similar to other newly built residences nearby, should attract house hunters interested in living near the bustling Frankford Avenue corridor in Fishtown, even if the environmentally friendly design is not on the buyers’ checklist, Somers said.

"In Fishtown central, new construction properties are inching up towards that $450,000 mark,” she said.

Currently, Postgreen is putting the finishing touches on the Pop Project – named for the building material’s most well-known use, stopping up bottles filled with champagne or wine.  The two homes will be move-in ready in about two weeks, Ludeman said.

"Besides [the environmental benefits], it is bragging rights to have this house," he said. "The first cork home in the country."

Contact Alison Burdo at 610.668.5635, alison.burdo@nbcuni.com or follow @NewsBurd on Twitter.

If you've recently purchased a bottle of Indigenous Selections wine, officials with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board have a message for you. Get rid of it as soon as possible.

• Grocery Store Workers Mull Possible Strike in Pa.

Officials say they’ve received several reports of Indigenous Selections Prosecco Brut 2013 (code 33283), 750 ml wine bottles spontaneously exploding in Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores across Pennsylvania.

”Consumers should use caution when handling this product,” said Liquor Control Board Chairman Joseph E. Brion. ”While we have not had any reports from consumers who may have been affected, we want to take every precaution in order to avoid a safety issue. Those who purchased the product can contact their local Fine Wine & Good Spirits Store for a full refund.”

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Indigenous Selections Prosecco Brut 2013 was sold for $12.99 in approximately 180 stores in early June. Since the reports of the exploding bottles, it has been removed from all Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores across the state.

If you happen to have this brand, don’t return the bottle to the store but instead dispose of it immediately. You will still be eligible for a refund though officials advise that you bring the original receipt with you to the store where you bought the bottle.

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Officials are unsure of what’s causing the bottles to explode and are working with the vendor to determine the cause.
 

With temperatures in the mid-90’s and high humidity expected, a heat advisory has been issued for the Philadelphia area from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

• Dealing With Dehydration

Officials with the National Weather Service say the combined high temperatures and humidity will create a situation where heat illnesses are possible.

Elderly people, those with chronic medical conditions, people taking medications, those with a mental illness, pregnant women, small children and those who work in a high heat environment are the most at risk in extreme heat.

• Possible Grocery Store Strike

Here are some tips on dealing with the heat:

• Avoid playing or working in the sun and other hot areas as much as possible
• If you have to work in the sun, wear a head covering
• Use air conditioners and fans
• Open windows to release trapped hot air
• If you’re taking regular medication, consult with your physician as some medications cause an adverse reaction in hot weather
• Wear lightweight clothing
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to avoid dehydration
• Maintain a normal diet
• Shower or bathe in water that is near skin temperature
• Don’t leave older people, children or pets alone in cars

Early signs of heat stress include decreased energy, a slight loss of appetite and nausea. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, go to a cool environment, drink fluids, remove excessive clothing and rest.

• Beware of Exploding Wine Bottles

Serious signs of heat stress include unconsciousness, rapid heartbeat, throbbing headache, dry skin, chest pain, confusion, irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, staggering and difficulty breathing.

If you experience any of these symptoms, make sure you get medical attention immediately. Also be sure to move to a cool area, remove excess clothing and have someone spray you with water while waiting.
 

Emergency crews are trying to rescue a man who was injured at a state park in Chester County.

• Heat Advisory in Philly

State Police say the 39-year-old man was at the 3400 block of Saint Peters Road at the French Creek State Park in Elverson when he went to a quarry to swim with his girlfriend.

After jumping in a shallow area of the water he suffered a spinal injury, according to investigators.

A medical helicopter is on the way.

• Exploding Wine Bottles

This story is developing. Stay with NBC10.com for updates.
 

A Cherry Hill family had an uninvited guest in their home last Wednesday.

The family noticed a bat flying around an empty room. A Cherry Hill Township Animal Control officer retrieved the bat from the home after the family called 911. 

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The New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services Public Health & Environmental Laboratory tested the bat in Trenton and informed the Camden County Health Department that the bat was rabid.

“Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department.

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“If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention.”

To learn more about rabies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here.

Downed wires caught fire on Route 70 in Cherry Hill Township, NJ Tuesday night, causing a major traffic backup.

• Philly Schools Plead for $96M

SkyForce10 captured the downed wires across all six lanes on Route 70 near Cuthbert Boulevard Tuesday night. The sparking wires caused flames to spread in one of the lanes.

About 2,700 customers also lost power due to the downed wires. Their power has since been restored.

Route 70 was shut down in both directions for over an hour.

Shortly before 11 p.m., one eastbound lane and one westbound lane reopened. However, according to Township officials, lane restrictions will remain in both directions overnight into Wednesday morning as crews continue to work on repairs.

Police are urging drivers to seek alternate routes until the roadway is completely reopened.

No injuries have been reported.

Police are still investigating what caused the wires to fall.
 

Police are investigating the death of a 76-year-old man who was struck by a car after he tripped and fell while crossing a Southwest Philadelphia street.

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The man fell Tuesday morning after tripping over an obstruction in the middle of Woodland Avenue on the 6500 block, police told NBC10. After he was hit by the car, the driver stayed on the scene and was not charged.

• 2 Dead After Jeep Crashes Into Lawn Mower 

The victim was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he was pronounced dead. Police have not identified him.

• Beware of Phone Scam 

A photo taken by NBC10’s Matt DeLucia shows a large bulge in the middle of 65th Street. A spokesperson with the streets department told NBC10 that the bulge is the result of “asphalt shoving,” which is caused by the accelerating and decelerating of trucks or buses on the road.

It’s unknown at this time whether it was the bulge that caused the man to trip. Officials continue to investigate.
 

Police say two people were killed after a Jeep struck a man riding a lawn mower in New Castle, Delaware on Tuesday.

• Burning Wires Shut Down Rt. 70

Investigators say a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on North Dupont Highway, in the center lane around 1:50 p.m. As it entered the left lane, it struck a 2008 Infiniti sport utility vehicle, according to police. Police say the Jeep then continued north and entered the right lane, striking a 2012 Ford Escape.

The driver of the Jeep then lost control, traveling over a concrete median. The vehicle then drove over a raised curb and onto a grassy area before striking a light pole. The Jeep continued on the grass, striking a man who was riding a lawn mower near the entrance of Wilmington University.

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The operator of the lawn mower, identified as 20-year-old Francisco Jimenez-Flores of Wilmington, was ejected from his vehicle. He was taken to Christiana Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the Jeep, identified as 25-year-old Derek Wynn of New Castle, was also taken to Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators have not yet determined whether Wynn died from injuries suffered during the crash or from a medical condition that may have caused his erratic driving. Investigators are also unsure whether he was properly restrained during the accident.

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The driver of the Infiniti suffered a minor injury while the driver of the Ford was not hurt.

North Dupont Highway northbound was closed for two hours due to the crash. It has since been reopened.
 

It’s not unusual for a bank to give customers a call whenever suspicious credit card activity is spotted on their account. But what if that phone call itself is part of another scam?

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Josephine Dervan, a retiree living in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, says she received a call on her cell phone a few weeks ago.

“It was an automated call,” Dervan said. “The first thing they said was, ‘your Chase Mastercard debit card has been locked.’”

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Dervan, whose debit card is with Chase Bank, immediately became concerned that there might be fraudulent activity on her account. She then listened to the rest of the message.

“If you would like to unlock it press one,” the message said.

Dervan pressed one.

“Your Chase card has been unlocked. To unlock it, put in the card number,” the message said.

That’s when Dervan knew something was wrong.

“I thought, wait a minute, they always tell you to not give your card number unsolicited to anybody who calls,” Dervan said. “So I immediately hung up.”

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Dervan then checked her card and realized it was branded with “Visa,” not “Mastercard.” She then called Chase Bank.

“When I spoke to someone she informed me that my account was perfectly good,” Dervan said. “There were no problems and they did not call me.”

The number that called her only read, “7000.” Dervan says the call came through even though she’s on the “Do Not Call” registry.

“It’s very scary because everywhere you go now there is some other scam,” Dervan said. “Someone wants to separate you from your money. If I had given him the information on the phone I probably would have had my account wiped out.”

• Exploding Wine Bottles

Officials at Chase Bank say that if you ever receive a call from someone claiming to be your bank or credit card company, tell them you will call them back. They then say you should hang up and call the number on your debit or credit card.

Never give your personal or account information unless you initiate the call and know that you’re dealing with the correct company.

A 13-year-old South Philadelphia boy says a stolen bike led to the shooting that nearly took his life.

• 2 Dead After Jeep Crashes Into Lawn Mower

"It just happened too fast," said the boy, who we are not identifying due to a request from his family. "I actually didn't feel the bullet go in. It was just too fast."

The boy says his bike was stolen on Sunday after he let a friend borrow it.

"So the next day we went to go look for it," the boy said.

The boy, his stepfather, and his friend drove around the neighborhood late Monday afternoon in search of the bike. Around 4:40 p.m., the boy says they ran into a man who claimed to know where the bike was.

• "Suspicious Credit Card Activity" Scam

According to the boy, the man said he would only provide the info if they paid him $20. The man then pulled out a gun and opened fire.

"I looked at him the whole time, shooting at me," the boy said.

The gunman fired eight shots into the front passenger side of the car where the boy was sitting. The boy curled up to protect himself but caught a bullet to the backside that exited through the front of his leg. He was also struck in the arm.

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Investigators say a detective who was working on an unrelated case witnessed the shooting and followed the suspect into a home on the 2000 block of Mountain Street. Another man, who police later determined was not involved in the shooting, also ran into the home with the gunman. A barricade situation was declared and other officers responded to the scene.

Officials say they eventually took the owner of the home into custody after they found two guns hidden in a golf bag inside. The gunman managed to escape however and is still on the loose while the owner is considered a person of interest.

The boy was treated and released at the hospital. He tells NBC10 he hopes he'll be healthy enough to attend the last day of school on Friday so that he can say goodbye to his friends. His family meanwhile is thankful that he survived the terrifying ordeal.

"He's still able to walk and he's here with us," said the boy's mother. "Things like this don't always just happen like this. I'm just happy that I still have my son."

If you have any information on the gunman's whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police.

A combination of high temperatures and humidity on Wednesday has prompted a Heat Advisory for a large part of the region.

Temperatures are expected to rise into the 90s with highs reaching towards the century mark at the height of the day, according to the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team.

• DOWNLOAD the FREE NBC10 First Alert Weather App

"The humidity will be on the rise, the temperatures will be going up, it's going to be an uncomfortable day for sure," NBC10 First Alert Weather Meteorologist Tedd Florendo said.

Temperatures were already hovering around 80 degrees by 5 a.m. offering a preview for the day ahead.

• "Corky-Homes:" Get a look inside Philly's Cork Homes, the first in the country

The heat and humidity combination has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Heat Advisory from noon until 7 p.m. on Wednesday for Philadelphia, Delaware, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and New Castle counties. Parts of Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Burlington counties are also included.

Officials are warning people prone to heat related illnesses to stay indoors and limit strenuous activities. Those who are working and playing outside are reminded to save the most vigorous activities for the early and late part of the day.

• Dirt piled under I-95 leads to safety concerns

Camden County in New Jersey is opening cooling centers to offer a respite for those who do not have air conditioning. Officials say residents should contact their individual municipality to find the nearest location to them.

Philadelphia health officials tell NBC10.com the city only opens cooling centers when a Heat Warning is issued.

The high heat could also cause thunderstorms to form late in the day on Wednesday.

Be sure to check the NBC10 First Alert Weather App throughout the day for the latest on conditions.