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Big Rig Operator Loses Control, Semi Jackknifes on Highway A semi-truck driver lost control of his rig just after midnight on U.S. Highway 76. The semi-truck jackknifed on the highway, on the Colorado plains east of Denver. The driver was heading east at the time of the accident. A Chrysler Pacific was traveling behind the big rig. Evidence collected as of this time indicates that the car was at a safe distance behind the big rig. There were four people…

An explosion and fire at the Valero refinery in Texas City produced a cloud of black smoke that was visible for miles but, at least initially, there were no reports of injuries or deaths at the facility. With a capacity of 225,000 barrels per day, the refinery is a major contributor to Valero’s chain of retail fuel centers/convenience stores throughout Texas and the southwest. According to Texas City sources, the fire occurred at around 3 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, and…

In the mid-afternoon of April 19, 2018, an explosion and fire at the Valero Refinery in Texas City shook buildings at up to a mile away and sent a plume of black smoke into the sky. Observers in the area reported that the smoke was visible for several miles in all directions. According to Texas City Emergency Management and management at the Valero refinery, there was no shelter in place order issued for areas outside the refinery although refinery workers…

The first death on a U.S. airline in over nine years occurred on April 17, 2018, at mid-morning, onboard a Southwest Airlines flight from New York to Dallas. The flight was diverted to Philadelphia. The death also marks the first time a Southwest Airlines passenger was killed. The accident was caused by Southwest Airlines engine damage. The investigation into the accident is only now beginning. Nonetheless, some basic information is known about the incident. Airplane Engine Explodes The horrific situation…

In a previous post on this website, we presented a recap of fraternity suspensions for the calendar year 2017. In today’s post, we present a summary of fraternity suspensions for the calendar first quarter of 2018 (January 1 – March 31). The numbers During the first quarter of 2018, our database documented a total of 46 fraternity suspensions (8 temporary or “pending investigation” and 38 suspensions of at least 1 year). The “leader-board” of fraternity misconduct for this period includes…