A Saturday morning fire at a North Philadelphia apartment building is being investigated as a possible arson, authorities said.
Officials said when police and firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire early Saturday on Diamond Street near 5th, they had to use force to get into the building to rescue people inside.
The Fire Marshal is now investigating the blaze as a potential arson.
One person was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries suffered in the fire.
This weekend is filled with apples, family activities, and live entertainment from Peddler’s Village.
The countryside destination hosted the 42d annual Apple Festival on Saturday and Sunday, continuing the tradition into the fourth decade.
Attendees could get fresh apples, apple pies, apple crepes, apple cider, and many more apple treats. The Artisan Area on the Street Road Green was also displaying handcrafted works from more than 60 regional artists, including jewelry, clothing, wooden bowls, and more.
The pie eating contest gathered guests, providing “lots of laughs and prizes for winners,” according to a release.
The festival was open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday with the same hours on Sunday. Admission and parking are free.
A DUI crash left a 69-year-old woman in Delaware dead and a 76-year-old man in critical condition Saturday night.
Police said Phyllis Kessler, 69, and Melvin Kessler, 76, both of Bear, were traveling in a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am on Route 40 at the ramp to northbound Route 1 in Bear at 10:22 p.m. when a 30-year-old man driving a 2005 Ford Expedition blew through a red light and slammed into the side of their car.
Phyllis Kessler died a short time after the crash at Christiana Hospital, police said. Melvin Kessler was also taken to Christiana Hospital, where he remained Sunday in critical but stable condition.
Police said the driver of the Ford, Cristobal Guzman-Martinez, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash but walked away from the wreckage unscathed. Guzman-Martinez, of Wilmington, was arrested at the scene for driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, vehicle assault, driving without a license and no proof of insurance.
Delaware State Police are continuing to investigate the deadly crash.
Earlier Saturday night, police said, another deadly crash involving several vehicles claimed the life of a woman in Delaware.
In that crash, which happened on DuPont Boulevard south of West Robbins Road, just outside Ellendale, police said Cheryl Green, 56, was driving a 1993 Mercury Villager minivan southbound in the northbound lanes with no headlights just after 9 p.m. Because the van had no headlights on, police said, a 2001 Volkswagen Passat driven by Tristin Lowe, 49, of Pennsylvania, headed northbound on DuPont crashed into the front of the minivan in the left lane. Both vehicles spun out and came to rest on the road, police said, when a 2012 Audi Q7 driven by Peter Gray, 68, of Massachusetts, also northbound on DuPont, also crashed into the minivan.
Green, whom police said was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Lowe was treated at Milford Memorial Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and released, and Gray was treated at BeeBe Medical Center and released, police said.
A crash in the southbound lanes of DuPont Boulevard caused when drivers slowed near the deadly crash also snarled traffic in the area, police said. No one suffered severe injuries in that secondary crash.
As the search continues for the person and car responsible for the deadly hit-and-run of a 9-year-old boy in the Lehigh Valley Friday night, family and friends memorialized the young victim on Sunday.
In memory of Darius Condash, the boy's football teammates from the East Side Huskies wore red undershirts during their championship game in Allentown.
"I know he's smiling over us," said Darius' cousin D'Angelo Martinez. "He's here with us right now. He wants us to win and we're gonna win it for him!"
Darius and his two older cousins went to the Wawa near Schoenersville Road and Route 22 around 6:30 p.m. Friday in Hanover Township. Darius bought his favorite candy, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, from the store. As he was crossing the roadway he dropped one of them and went to pick it up. Suddenly, he was struck by a passing car which fled the scene, according to witnesses.
"I went past cars," Martinez said. "I saw lights and I was praying. I saw him on the floor laying there."
Darius was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, where he later died from his injuries. An autopsy revealed that he died of blunt-force trauma.
Darius, who dreamed of one day playing in the NFL, died only two days before his football team, the East Side Huskies, played in the championship game. Darius' family encouraged the team to still play in his honor.
"This is what Darius would want," said East Side Youth Center Coordinator Mike Beck. "Darius would want these kids to be playing football today! He'd want to be here with these guys. So just to get out there and do it for them. Try to take their mind off of it."
The Huskies bowed their heads for a moment of silence before kickoff Sunday morning. With emotions running high, the Huskies held their opponent, the Northampton Concrete Kids, scoreless for three quarters. The Huskies were scoreless as well however and Northampton scored the game's only touchdown in the fourth quarter. Yet while the Huskies didn't get the championship trophy they still held their heads high, knowing their teammate would be proud.
"He's always with us," said East Side Huskies head coach Yussef Delvalle. "He'll always be with us! You know, in our hearts!"
The Concrete Kids joined the Huskies in a final tribute to Darius, releasing balloons in the boy's honor.
"He's still part of us in our hearts," said Darius' teammate J.D. Martin. "Forever and ever."
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a vessel in distress off the Jersey Shore.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia received a mayday call around 12:45 p.m. Sunday from the fishing vessel Interlude reporting the vessel was near Ocean City, New Jersey taking on water and heading into port, officials said.
The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 dolphin helicopter and several vessels from Air Station Atlantic City to search for the boat.
If you have any information on its location, please call Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay at 215-271-4940 or VHF marine radio channel 16.
Watch the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys LIVE by using the NBCSports App.
CLICK HERE or download the mobile app and click "Watch Live TV Now" at the top of the app.
A fire damaged a golf course club house in Ocean County Sunday night.
Firefighters were called to the Ocean County Golf Course at Atlantis on Country Club Boulevard in Little Egg Harbor around 8:45 p.m. for reports of a structure fire. When they arrived they saw heavy smoke and flames and heard several explosions inside the club house.
Several fire companies from the township and surrounding homes responded to the scene and they were able to bring the flames under control. The club house building sustained heavy damage.
While no one was seriously injured, a few firefighters were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
The Ocean County Fire Marshal is currently investigating the cause of the blaze.
A woman is fighting for her life after she was struck by a deer during a car crash in Delaware Sunday night.
Police say a 53-year-old man was driving a 1992 Toyota Corolla southbound on SR 9(5th Street) in the area of the refinery north of SR 72 in Delaware City around 8:45 p.m. when an antlered deer entered the roadway directly into the vehicle’s path.
The front of the Corolla struck the deer causing the animal to crash through the windshield and strike the front right passenger, 48-year-old Jamie Episcopo of Delaware City. The driver then stopped at the intersection of 5th and Madison streets.
Episcopo was taken to the Christiana Medical Center where she is currently in critical condition.
Delaware State Police continue to investigate the crash.
A 6-year-old girl caught in a New Jersey street shooting that killed a 24-year-old man was expected to survive, prosecutors said Saturday.
The girl was shot in the leg in the Friday afternoon attack in Plainfield and was brought to the hospital. Her 33-year-old aunt was also hit and was treated at the scene.
The man, Anthony Bowles, appeared to be the target of the attack. His identity was released Saturday by the Union County Prosecutor's Office.
According to witnesses, he was standing in the middle of Evona Avenue in Plainfield when someone came up and started firing shortly before 3 p.m.
At least three bullet holes could be seen in the siding of one home on the street, and a car had shattered windows.
"The guy was shooting the other guy, and the guy was running into that house," said witness Jose Hernandez.
Another witness reported hearing "at least 10 or 11 shots."
Six-year-old Sharlene Garcia was playing in front of the house, and two bullets hit her in the leg, authorities said. Another grazed the leg of her aunt, Maria Garcia, who was also outside.
While the girl and her aunt lay on the front lawn, the targeted victim ran, trying to escape through homes on the street, witnesses said.
"He tried to go into the other house," said Hernandez. "The door was locked, when he pulled the door he went to the ground because he was shot. I don't know how many times."
The man died at the scene while the suspect or suspects got away.
While police investigated at the scene Friday, neighbors were angry that an innocent girl became a victim of what appeared to be suspicious and dangerous activity.
The Union County prosecutor's office would not confirm witness accounts.
Here are the 10 things you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.
TODAY'S TOP STORY
Fire Breaks Out in Rittenhouse-Area High-Rise: A fire broke out inside a Center City Philadelphia high-rise Monday morning. The fire began at around 6 a.m. inside the Embassy Apartments at 21st and Walnut streets in the area of Rittenhouse Square. Firefighters responded to the scene but there was no visible smoke coming from the building. No one was hurt. Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
It'll be a cold start this morning; the coldest morning this week. You'll see some sunshine, but clouds will move in this afternoon ahead of rain, which is expected to begin his evening and continue through Tuesday morning. High Temp: 62 degrees. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.
WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY
NJ Mom Burned Body Found in Massachusetts: Friends and family are mourning a New Jersey mother who was found dead in Massachusetts, her body burned and bound. Investigators in the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office say the body is that of 29-year-old Ashley Bortner of Paulsboro, New Jersey. Officials believe Bortner was killed at a different location and her body was brought to the commuter rail tracks, where she was burned. Her family is now asking for donations to bring her body back to New Jersey.
AROUND THE WORLD
Israel Says Palestinian Woman Shot Dead in Attempted Attack: Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian woman at a West Bank checkpoint after she pulled a knife in an attempt to stab guards on Monday. According to ministry spokeswoman Arielle Heffez, the woman — who was identified as 23-year-old Rasha Owaisi from the West Bank town of Qalqilya — ignored calls to stop and also warning shots that were fired in her direction as she walked toward a checkpoint near the Alfei Menashe settlement in northern West Bank. The Israeli army said troops were looking for another person suspected of involvement in the attack but provided no details.
Starbucks' Plain Red Cups Draw Criticism From Some Coffee Lovers: Starbucks recently unveiled its festive red cups, just ahead of the Christmas holiday season. But this year, the word "Christmas" has been removed from the cups, and some customers, like former Arizona pastor Joshua Feuerstein are not at all happy about the change. Learn more about the coffee controversy here.
SPORTS SPOT
Eagles Score a Win Over the Cowboys: Eagles fans cheered as the Birds beat the Dallas Cowboys 33 to 27 in an overtime thriller. NBC10's Randy Gyllenhaal speaks to excited fans and also shows the highlights from a tailgating event and fundraiser featuring former Eagle Brian Dawkins. Get your full sports news at CSNPhilly.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
See more Top News Photos here.
THROUGH IGER'S EYES
@darrenburton_ snapped this cool photo of birds flying through Philly skies.
Have an awesome Instagram photo you'd like to share? Tag it with #NBC10Buzz.
TODAY'S VIRAL VIDEO
This hedgehog knows how to float. Watch the video here.
Strange Lights in CaliforniaSkies: Residents and viewers across California and parts of the West Coast are pointing to everything from drones to UFOs as the possible source of a strange flash of light seen in the sky on Saturday. Multiple videos of the light sighting have since gone viral. The light was reportedly seen as far south as Mexico and as far north as the Bay Area. Today, military officials say the lights that caused such a stir were the result of a routine missile test. Learn more about the strange lights mystery here.
That's what you need to know. We've got more stories worthy of your time in the Breakfast Buzz section. Click here to check them out.
An eastern Pennsylvania power company is turning to drones to keep its infrastructure in check.
PPL Electric Utilities plans to show off its unmanned aerial system – currently consisting of three drones plus some robots flown by a third-party company – Monday morning.
The company – which serves clients in the Lehigh Valley, Poconos, Lancaster, Harrisburg and other parts of the Keystone State – claims it’s one of the first power companies in the country to turn to drones to inspect its power lines. The company also claims the three-foot wide robots can be used to inspect post-storm damage.
PPL said that the FAA approved the company’s use of drones back in April and the company began quietly using the technology in August, said PPL.
“Drones are a technology we believe can assist us in our efforts to strengthen reliability for customers,” said PPL spokesman Joe Nixon. “It’s another tool in our toolbox and will supplement current methods, which also include manned helicopter patrols and patrols and observations from the ground.”
The company said they don’t anticipate the drones leading to the elimination of any jobs or other services in the immediate future.
Flames broke out inside a Center City Philadelphia high-rise Monday morning.
The blaze broke out around 6 a.m. inside the Embassy Apartments at 21st and Walnut streets in the area of Rittenhouse Square.
As SkyForce10 hovered overhead a short time later, you could see firefighters responding to the scene but there was no visible smoke coming from the building.
No one was hurt. As firefighters worked inside the building, people could be seen gathered on the sidewalk across the street.
After a matter of minutes, firefighters said they had the situation under control. Expect traffic trouble in the area as crews clear apparatus.
No word yet on what caused the blaze and no word on where it began.
