Construction worker clipped by SMART bus, thrown into crane

A 41-year-old man was seriously injured this morning in Warren when he was catapulted into a crane by a SMART bus.

Jason Carey, of Marysville, suffered brain injuries as a result of the accident, which happened on a road construction site on Ryan Road, just north of Chicago Road, said Warren Police Deputy Commissioner Louis Galasso.

“It’s a very bizarre and tragic accident,” said Galasso.

Carey was carrying a 36-foot pole between his arm and torso and walking parallel to Ryan Road, but about 15 feet away from traffic, said Galasso. Something caused him to turn, putting part of the pole into oncoming traffic. The bus, carrying four passengers who were not harmed, clipped the pole, throwing Carey in the air. Because of traffic, it does not appear the bus was traveling very fast.

He crashed into a crane about 10 feet away, said Galasso. Emergency crews took him to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak where he is in critical condition. He was wearing a helmet, said Galasso, but it wasn’t enough to shield him from injuries sustained in this way.

“Those helmets are really not designed to protect anyone from that sort of impact,” he said.

Carey was an employee of Diponio Contracting of Shelby Township. A request for comment has been made.

By Megha Satyanarayana
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

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Women's deaths linked to meningitis outbreak

A 64-year-old Wayne County woman is one of two of the latest confirmed meningitis deaths in Michigan, health officials said Tuesday.

The woman, a resident of an extended-care facility in Wayne County, died Oct. 26, said Mary Mazur, a spokeswoman for Wayne County Health Department. The woman was being treated in a local hospital at the time of her death.

It is the first Wayne County fatality in the national meningitis outbreak, which has been linked to contaminated steroids made by a Massachusetts pharmacy and shipped to at least four Michigan clinics. The woman had received an injection, Mazur said.

"Information right now between our offices and the state is still forthcoming," she said.

The other victim is an 81-year-old woman from Charlevoix County. The state Department of Community Health said Tuesday there have been 62 Michigan meningitis cases, including eight deaths.

Besides the confirmed cases of meningitis, Michigan officials also reported one stroke, four joint infections and 27 abscesses. The tainted steroids were injected to relieve pain.

Nationally, there have been 363 illnesses, including seven joint infections, and 28 deaths.

By Candice Williams
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Wegmans Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownie Mix Recalled

By The FDA / October 26, 2012
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling all code dates (from 30Oct2013 to 18Mar2013) of Wegmans Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownie Mix, 17.2 oz. (UPC 77890 28336) because the product may contain undeclared tree nuts (pecans) and milk. People who have an allergy to tree nuts (pecans) or milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.

Wegmans began offering this product for sale in May 2012 at its 80 retail stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

The recall was initiated by Wegmans following reports by two consumers of allergic reactions after consuming the product. Initial testing revealed that the product may contain undeclared milk prompting the recall on October 11, 2012, when the product was immediately removed from sale. Further testing for other allergens resulted in the finding that undeclared pecans may also be present in the product.

Concerned customers should return the product to Wegmans service desk for a full refund. Wegmans customers with questions or concerns should contact the consumer affairs department at 1-800-WEGMANS (934-6267), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

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Howell man whose wife died in outbreak has meningitis

A Livingston County man whose wife died in a national outbreak of meningitis says he's in a hospital being treated for the same illness.

George Cary, 65, of Howell says he began having severe headaches Friday, just days after being told that initial tests in early October showed no evidence of meningitis.

Cary didn't disclose the name of the hospital in his Wednesday statement provided to the Associated Press.

He and his wife, Lilian, were treated for back and neck pain at a Brighton-area clinic that used contaminated steroids made by a Massachusetts pharmacy. The tainted drugs have been linked to an outbreak of fungal meningitis that has sickened more than 300 people nationwide and has killed 23.

Lilian Cary died on Sept. 30.

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BEF Foods Recalls 1,768,600 lbs. of Bob Evans Sausages – Misbranded

By The USDA / October 23, 2012
BEF Foods Inc. of Columbus, OH has recalled about 1,768,600 pounds of Bob Evans Maple Links and Maple Patties because they are misbranded in that they contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is not declared on the label. The products were produced at establishments in Hillsdale, MI and Xenia, OH.

The products subject to recall include:

12-oz. packages of “Bob Evans Maple Links” with UPC numbers of “075900002300″, “075900000085″ and “075900002324.”
12-oz. packages of “Bob Evans Maple Patties” with UPC numbers of “0759000025028″ and “075900000795″ and “075900002522.”
The products were produced between April 4, and Oct. 19, 2012, and will have the establishment number “M-952″ or “M-6785″ inkjetted on the side of the package. Product purchased fresh will have a use-by date between Oct. 14, 2012 and Dec. 4, 2012 listed. Instead of a use-by date, frozen products may be identified by any of the following Julian codes: 0264 through 0365, 1001 through 1365, and 2001 through 2293.

The problem was discovered by the company during a label audit. When the company reformulated their products, they discontinued the use of a spice blend containing MSG and removed MSG from the ingredient list on the label. During the label audit, the company discovered that the individual establishments were still using a spice blend containing MSG. MSG is not classified as an allergen, but can cause a reaction in people with a sensitivity to MSG.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks (including at restaurants) to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and to ensure that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Media with questions about the recall should contact the company’s Director of Corporate Communications, Margaret Standing, at (614) 492-4921. Consumers should call the company’s guest relations line at 1-800-939-2338.

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NTSB: Reversed switch derailed Niles train

A reversed switch caused the Amtrak train to derail near Niles on Sunday, injuring seven passengers and disrupting service on the state's west side, transportation officials said Tuesday.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which launched an investigation, released more information about Amtrak train 350 that was headed from Chicago to Pontiac.

The NTSB found the train had a green signal, allowing it to proceed at maximum speed as it traveled about two miles east of Niles, near the Indiana border, around 10:10 a.m. Sunday. But a switch leading off the main track just beyond the signal was reversed, moving the train into a rail yard instead of the main track it was on.

A derailing device was installed between the yard track and the main track. The passenger train dislodged the device, the report said, but derailed about 290 feet beyond the switch, continued on the yard track and stopped with all cars upright.

By Mark Hicks
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Saline boy, 13, injured in fall from school balcony

Saline — Authorities say a 13-year-old boy has been taken to a hospital after falling about 30 feet from a balcony at a high school gym in Michigan.

Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman Karen Gabrys tells AnnArbor.com the boy was in stable condition following the Monday morning fall at Saline High School, about 35 miles west of Detroit.

Saline Area Schools spokesman Steve Laatsch says the student fell over the balcony in the gym, but it wasn't immediately known how he fell.

Laatsch says the boy was on a running track of the balcony during a fitness class that is offered to middle school students. He says the boy was responsive and conscious after the fall.

The district is investigating.

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FDA lists more data on meningitis outbreak

The deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis took more turns Monday when three Michigan residents sued the company identified as the alleged source, lawmakers said concerns about the drug date back a decade and federal officials released more information about facilities and products that might have been affected.

But shortly after the Food and Drug Administration posted online a more detailed list of locations that in recent months received products shipped from the New England Compounding Center, the documents were taken down from its website.

"FDA has found some technical problems with the list and some of the data are incorrect," press officer Erica Jefferson said late Monday. "FDA is working to correct the list and will re-post when we are sure it is accurate."

By Christine Tierney and Mark Hicks
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About a dozen hurt in Michigan train derailment

Niles — About a dozen passengers and crew on an Amtrak train from Chicago to Pontiac were injured Sunday when two of its locomotives and one or more coaches derailed.

None of the injuries from the incident near Niles in southwest Michigan were considered serious or life-threatening, said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari. The injured were taken to area hospitals.

Amtrak train 350, the Wolverine Service, was carrying approximately 174 passengers and four crew members when it lost "contact with the track" about two miles east of Niles, Magliari told The Associated Press.

"The train remained upright and in-line," he added.

Police in Niles said the scene was being cleared about 12:30 p.m.

The cause of the derailment, just north of the Indiana state line and about 80 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, was under investigation. Amtrak service in West Michigan was disrupted.

Magliari said alternate transportation was being arranged for passengers on the derailed train and on other Amtrak trains until the tracks could be re-opened.

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Couple avoid paying damages in gun training accident

Pontiac — An Oakland Circuit Court jury determined Tuesday no damages should be assessed against a Macomb County couple who allowed a May 2009 handgun safety class on their property in which the instructor accidentally shot a student in the face.

The injured man, Terry Gonser, 65, of Oakland Township sued Mitchell and Deborah Washer of Addison Township; the National Rifle Association; the instructor, Thomas Simpson; and Simpson's assistant, Gary Chapman.

In out-of-court agreements, the 78-year-old Simpson, who didn't check a handgun to see if it was loaded, settled for $255,000. His assistant, Chapman, settled for $101,000 and the NRA paid $75,000 to be dismissed from the lawsuit, according to court records and Gonser's attorney, James O. Elliott

By Mike Martindale
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Lawsuit: Corrections workers 'reckless' in light of Royal Oak woman's death

Pontiac — An Oakland Circuit Court lawsuit has been filed against the Michigan Department of Corrections and 10 unnamed employees for failing to properly supervise two parolees now charged in the Nov. 20 death of an 80-year-old Royal Oak woman.

Attorney James Rasor alleges the MDOC and employees — through negligence and "reckless" actions — failed to supervise parolees Alan Craig Wood and Tonia Watson, now jailed and awaiting a trial for the murder of Nancy Dailey, who was found bound, beaten and strangled with her throat slit in her Royal Oak home. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of Dailey's niece, Nan Drinkard, and Dailey's estate.

By Mike Martindale
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Peanut Butter Recall of 2012: Products Affected by Recalled Sunland Peanut Butter

The list of products affected by the Sunland peanut butter recall continues to grow each day.

The FDA list
By E. Sizemore / October 16, 2012

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Congress Takes on 'Killer Mold'

Pam Walker and her family lived in their Southfield, Mich., home for only 24 days before the mold drove them out.

Walker's then-7-year-old daughter Melina, who Walker calls her "human radar detector," started suffering multiple, uncontrollable attacks that Walker says eventually led the girl to lose 70 percent of her lung capacity. The entire family itched with hives and their noses bled.

The newly bought three-bedroom house, which Walker said reeked unforgettably like dirt and sulphur, soon became suspect. Searching for what made the family sick, teams of investigators, sewer and gas workers and cleaners marched through the property.

By Geraldine Sealey ABCnews.com

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Paramedic blanket story covers Web

Blankets donated to Detroit EMS after posting goes viral

Outrage over a Detroit EMS paramedic Jeff Gaglio being charged by his department after providing a fire victim with a blanket has gone viral.

"We are getting sent blankets from all over the country, even from overseas," said Detroit EMS medic Robert Shelton. "It is amazing what is going on here."

Three weeks ago Gaglio provided a senior citizen, who was forced out of his home by a fire with few clothes on, a blanket to warm him.

Two weeks later, Gaglio was officially informed that he would be brought up on departmental charges for giving away city-owned property.


By Sebastian Hofer
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4th Michigan meningitis death cited

Family suspects senior had disease; state cases at 39

The family of a southern Michigan woman said it believes she died of fungal meningitis after receiving two injections of a tainted back pain medication at a northern Indiana clinic, the fourth Michigan resident to die in the outbreak.

Lisa Ann Durbin said her grandmother, Pauline Burema, 89, of Cassopolis, Mich., died Wednesday at a daughter's home in Bristol, Ind.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed an Indiana fungal meningitis death Thursday, and Angela Minicuci, a spokeswoman at the Michigan Department of Community Health, said a Cass County, Mich., resident died of fungal meningitis after being treated for back pain in Indiana. Michigan health officials reported 39 cases in the state Thursday, up from 25 a day earlier. Nationwide, cases of the noncontagious fungal meningitis rose to 170 in 11 states as of Thursday. Fourteen people have died.

By Ken Kusmer
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Whole Foods Market Recalls Mislabeled Soup in Six States Due to Possible Undeclared Allergen

Contact
Consumers:
617-492-5500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 2, 2012 – Whole Foods Market is recalling soup sold in all stores in six states due to mislabeling. The Whole Foods Market Kitchens soup, labeled as Roasted Garlic and Eggplant Soup, was in fact Lobster Bisque, which poses the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if consumed by customers with a shellfish or milk allergy.

The soup was sold in 24oz containers from Whole Foods Market stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, between September 29 and October 2, 2012. The label includes a sell-by date of October 4, 2012.

Signage is posted in affected Whole Foods Market stores to notify customers of this recall, and all affected product has been removed from shelves.

Consumers who have purchased this product from Whole Foods Market may return it to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact their local store or call 617-492-5500 between the hours of 9am and 5pm EST.

By FDA / October 11, 2012

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Tough Michigan immunity law for drugmakers may not apply in meningitis cases, experts say

Michigan is the only state in the country where victims of faulty drugs can't sue the drugmaker, but experts say those affected by the recent outbreak of meningitis from a fungus-tainted steroid drug compound likely will have legal recourse.

The reason: the compounding companies, such as the one that produced the steroid, don't need approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The immunity law only covers drugs approved by the FDA.

The legal fallout from the illnesses isn't yet known, but the federal government has now identified 28 meningitis cases in Michigan linked to the steroid, which is used to ease back pain. A total of 119 cases and 11 deaths have been reported in 10 states.

Three deaths in Michigan have been blamed on meningitis after the person was treated with the drug. Those include Lilian Cary, a 67-year-old Livingston County woman, and two others who have not been identified -- a 56-year-old woman from Genesee County and a 78-year-old Washtenaw County woman.

By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki
Detroit Free Press

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Suit: Firm tied to meningitis outbreak provided tainted meds in 2002, man died

Long before the current rash of fungal meningitis, the compounding pharmacy suspected in the outbreak settled a lawsuit alleging it produced a tainted shot that caused a man's death in 2004.

Earlier this summer, a separate pharmaceutical firm with common owners was accused of failing to separate sterile and non-sterile supplies. That pharmaceutical company was shut down Wednesday for inspections, the latest example of fallout from the growing outbreak.

Officials have identified Framingham, Mass., based-New England Compounding Center as the source of steroid shots suspected in the outbreak of rare fungal meningitis that has killed at least 12 people and made more than 130 others sick in 11 states.

By Holbrook Mohr
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Four new meningitis cases reported at Ann Arbor hospital

Ann Arbor — Four new cases of fungal meningitis in Michigan have been confirmed at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, officials said Wednesday.

Lauren Smoker, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said officials have confirmed four more cases of the disease, raising the total number of cases being treated at the facility to 22.

The news comes a day after state health officials updated the number of Michiganians sickened by the outbreak tied to tainted steroids to 25, including three deaths. Nationally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has now reached 119 cases, including 11 deaths.

By Charles E. Ramirez
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Meningitis victim's husband says outbreak a 'wake-up call'

Widower questions inspections at Mass. steroid supplier

Howell — A Metro Detroit congressman and a Livingston County man whose wife died of fungal meningitis questioned Tuesday whether adequate inspections were done at a Massachusetts steroid supplier linked to an outbreak in 10 states.

Their concerns come as state health officials report a third death in Michigan — a 78-year-old woman from Washtenaw County.

Meanwhile, George Cary told reporters outside his Howell home, discussing the Sept. 30 death of his wife, Lilian: "Our loss and that of others should be a wake-up call to our country."

He added later: "The apparent lack of suitable inspections should not have happened."

By Jim Lynch
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Mich. man at risk for meningitis after losing wife

DETROIT — Days after taking his wife off life support, George Cary got a phone call that confirmed his suspicions: Her meningitis-related death was linked to tainted steroid injections at a Michigan clinic that had regularly treated her back pain.

The doctor on the call had more tough news. Cary's own back injections in September may have come from a contaminated batch too.

Cary went to an emergency room last weekend for a spinal tap. The test results aren't in yet, so he is left to wait and say goodbye to his wife, 67-year-old Lilian Cary, at a memorial service Tuesday.

"They advised me to watch for symptoms," Cary, 65, told The Associated Press from a funeral home in Howell, 60 miles northwest of Detroit. "At this point, there's nothing abnormal, but they said the same thing when Lilian had hers. ... Not only have I lost my wife, but I'm watching the clock to see if anything develops."

By ED WHITE, AP

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Michigan hit by 20 fungal meningitis cases, 2 deaths

Lansing — State health officials on Sunday reported a total of 20 cases of rare fungal meningitis in the state, including two deaths. That's up from the eight cases announced just 24 hours earlier.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective coverings of the brain and spinal cord. It is not contagious, but it can be fatal

Nine states are currently reporting a total of 64 fungal cases, according the Centers for Disease Control. Seven total deaths have occurred.

By Jim Lynch
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Infant dies in Detroit dog attack

Detroit — A 3-week-old baby died Thursday evening after being mauled by a pit bull on the city's west side, police said.

The child's mother, 24, carried her in a car seat into a home in the 7700 block of Stahelin around 5:45 p.m.

The woman placed the car seat on the floor and walked away for a moment. When she returned, she found a pit bull attacking her daughter, police said.

The infant was rushed to a hospital, but she died from her injuries.

Police took the dog from the home Thursday evening as neighbors stood by. Some, angry, shouted that they would have stabbed the dog if they had witnessed the attack.

By Candice Williamsand Mark Hicks
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Peanut butter recall expands to 101 products, major stores

Peanut butter recall in 30 states now includes other nut products from manufacturer Sunland, Inc., which may be linked to a salmonella outbreak. Several major retailers, including Whole Foods and Target, have pulled products as part of the expanded peanut butter recall.


By Schuyler Velasco, Correspondent / October 2, 2012

Last week, the FDA recalled all jars of Trader Joe’s Valencia Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt, pulling the product off Trader Joe’s shelves due to a possible link to salmonella illnesses reported in 19 states.

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Biker group claims motorcycle deaths fell since helmet law took effect

Proponents of the law allowing motorcyclists to ride without helmets stated Tuesday that despite predictions to the contrary, motorcycle fatalities actually have dropped by 7 percent.

American Bikers Aiming Toward Education (ABATE) said the drop was based on statistics obtained from the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Secretary of State.

"We at American Bikers Aiming Toward Education, or ABATE Michigan, are concerned with motorcycle safety, so we have been monitoring the effect of this helmet law modification to see what impact it has made, " said Vince Consiglio, President, for ABATE Michigan.

By Tom Greenwood
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Dearborn police to receive HIV awareness training after traffic stop incident

Dearborn — The Dearborn Police Department will undergo training to improve interactions with people who have HIV or AIDS after an officer's reaction toward a woman with the disease during a traffic stop.

By Mark Hicks
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Supreme Court won't let Holland family sue corporation over death

Washington — The Supreme Court won't let the family of a raped and murdered college girl sue the employer of her killers for her 1979 death.

The high court on Monday refused to let the parents of Janet Chandler sue Wackenhut Corp., which in 1979 was hired to send security guards to Holland, Mich., to provide security during a strike.

Chandler, who was a 23-year-old college student working at a hotel, was kidnapped, raped and killed by Wackenhut guards, who then covered up her death. Six people were convicted of first- or second-degree murder, five of whom worked for Wackenhut. But the federal courts have said Chandler's family cannot sue Wackenhut for her long-ago death.

The high court refused to reconsider that ruling.

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Mich. inmate owes $353 after losing teeth trial

Marquette — A Michigan inmate who blamed prison officials for his bad teeth has another cavity to fill: a $353 bill for his failed lawsuit.

A judge has ordered Jerry Flanory to pay for transcript costs, copy fees and a nominal $20 for the state's cost of the one-day trial. The money will go to the state of Michigan.

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