Tag Archive for: Union County Sheriff’s Department

Union County board dealt with short agenda March 6th

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NEMiss.News County Supervisors March 6, 2023

 

 

The Union County Board of Supervisors dealt with a short agenda during its Monday, March 6 meeting.

The board approved the lowest bid from Riddle Heating and Air for $15,939 to replace the HVAC unit in the Chancery Court Building.

The consent agenda included routine approvals of statements of expenditures, claims docket payments, and board minutes.

The county administrator, comptroller, and chancery clerk were approved to attend the Mississippi Association of County Administrators & Comptrollers (MACAC) Spring Conference in Ridgeland in April.

The board discussed proposals for Engineering Services and approved services from the Elliott & Britt engineering firm for the industrial project at Martintown North.

New sheriff’s department employees were approved.

Deleting a Chevrolet Tahoe and a Dodge Ram from the inventory was approved.

The board approved G&O Supply, Inc. for a culvert project for $7,009.

The tax assessor’s office received approval for the surrendered tag list, petitions for assessment reduction/increase, and payroll authorization for Cody Roberts as deputy assessor.

The Union County board will meet again at 10 a.m. Monday, March 20.

Video of full meeting by Kenny S Studio: https://youtu.be/l5ww1Be5IPc

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Teen driver leads New Albany Police, Union Co. Sheriffs and MS Highway Patrol officers on 100 mph chase

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NEMiss.News Joyriding in mom's car

 

Two Union County children escaped serious injury when they led local law officers on a high speed chase Tuesday night, Feb 21.

A New Albany Police Department (NAPD) in routine patrol on West Bankhead St. spotted a Toyota Avalon with a headlight out, a moving violation, about 11 p.m. Tuesday evening. When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, it failed to stop and turned east onto Sam T. Barkley Drive. The officer gave chase as the vehicle fled down Sam T. Barkley, then turned south on Highway 15 at speeds up to 100 mph.

The officer did not know at that time was that the car was being driven by a 14-year-old boy, who had a 15 year old boy with him.

The Union County Sheriff’s office and the Mississippi Highway Patrol joined the chase.

The driver turned east from Highway 15 onto Highway 348.

The car with the two teens was ultimately stopped on Hwy 348 when officers deployed tire-puncturing spikes on the roadway. A New Albany Department vehicle was damaged when the fleeing car was finally stopped.

New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson said there were no injuries to police officers and no apparent injuries to the two boys.

The children were turned over to their parents. It turns out that the Toyota belonged to the stepmother of one of the boys.

The boys will be charged in juvenile court.

“This was a very dangerous incident,” said New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson. “We’re just glad that no police officers and neither of the children involved in this event were injured.”

Not to mention any uninvolved motorists or pedestrians who could easily have met with misfortune on that night.

 

Please share any thoughts, comments or questions in the Comments section below!

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Three Oklahomans arrested on drug and firearms-related charges; possible sex-trafficking charges, after local traffic stop

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NEMiss.News Confiscated arms and drugs
Three arrested on drug and firearm-related charges.

Two adult females and one adult male, all from Oklahoma, are in the Union County Jail on drug and firearms charges.

Two 16-year-old females, one reported as a missing person from Texas, were with the adults when the arrests were made.

Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards said Deputy Sheriff Chris Whiteside spotted the vehicle, eastbound on Interstate 22 with a Texas license plate, commit an illegal moving violation as the vehicle was about to enter New Albany at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10.

Whiteside and other Union County deputies arrested and booked into the Union County jail:

Tericka Jackson, age 32, of Elk City, Oklahoma. She is charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and bond was set at $200,000.

Graylan Ninedors, age 23, of Oklahoma City. He is charged with trafficking in controlled substances and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Ninedor’s bond on the drug trafficking charge was set at $200,000 and $10,000 on the firearms charges.

Isis Abriana Edwards, age 20, Lawton, Oklahoma (near Fort Sill). She is charged with trafficking in controlled substances and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Her bond was set at $200,000 on the drug trafficking charge and $20,000 on the firearms violations.

Sheriff Edwards said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations  (MBI), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had been notified of the arrests.

He said he believes he FBI will bring charges based on evidence that the two minor females may have been victims of sex trafficking and “headed for a very dark and dangerous life” in Atlanta.

The 16 year-old-girl, who had been reported missing from Texas, has been picked up and returned to Texas by that state’s child protective services people. The other teenage girl, still in Union County, had a hearing before a juvenile court Monday and measures will be taken to for the child’s safety.

Besides the three felony arrests and the recovery of the two teenaged girls, Union County deputies also confiscated 18 pounds of marijuana and several semi-automatic firearms including at least one AK-47 type assault rifle. The weapons could involve the ATF in the case.

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The Union County Board of Supervisor approves purchase of additional garbage cans, new Argo Responder vehicle

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NEMiss.News County Board Meeting 1-17-2023

 

 

The board approved a Resolution proposed by Board Attorney Chandler Rogers for a Medal of Honor Trail.

At the request of County Administrator Terry Johnson, supervisors rescinded previous quotes on fans at the Fairgrounds Arena (low bidder required payment in advance) and discussed new quotes once everyone has a chance to look them over again.

Additionally, the board discussed quotes on additional garbage carts to be purchased with ARPA funds; three bids were received: TBS Supply for $27,743.00, Cascade for $28,563.00 Schaefer for 29,810.01 The board approved the bid from Cascade due to its better product quality.

They also amended budgets for Toyota Debt Service Fund by $500 an increase paying agent fees as well as E-911 purchase of 911 Road Signs, respectively.

At the request of Chancery Clerk Annette Hickey, the board approved County Departments Budget Comparison for December 2022 and semi-annual payments as Clerk of Board (MS Code 25-7-9).

County Coroner Pam Boman was granted payment of 13 Medical Examiner Fees.

The Board discussed quotes for Emergency Management Administrator Curt Clayton for purchasing a 2023 Argo Responder, which will be paid for through a grant received by EMA. There were two bids considered:  Star Power Sports ($36,779) and Adventure ATV ($35,949.) The Adventure ATV bid was approved.

The road department was given approval for new part-time employment of Darren Timmons. Three new school bus turn arounds were approved. The contract with Chem-Pro for winter road service was approved, along with part time employment for David Herod.

The Sheriff’s Department received approval for a manual check payable to the PIPE fund, also MS DARE Training Centre in Louisville for training, lodging, and meals supplies for Terry Dowty, Jr.

Approval was granted to the Solid Waste Department for the promotion of John Moody as Foreman and Richard “Chris” Jordan. These promotions take effect January 17, 2023.

Tax Assessor/Collector Tameri Dunnam received approval for the surrendered tag list, the outstanding checks, inventory deletions, and three petitions for reductions of assessments.

A motion to adjourn until 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, was approved.

Video of full meeting by Kenny S studio:  https://youtu.be/KO043YP-oRk

–Kendall Stancil

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County Board elects new president, conducts much routine business at first 2023 meeting

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NEMiss.News County Board, January 3, 2023

 

The Union County Board of Supervisors met January 3, 2023.

It being the first meeting of the new year, the board accepted the resignation of board president C. J. Bright. The board unanimously elected District 2 Supervisor Chad Coffey as board president for the coming year.

The board allocated second quarter budgets for the Tax Collector, Sheriff’s Department and Jail, and appointed a new Public Defender for Circuit Court. The allocated budget amounts are as follows: Tax Collector – $184,199.67; Sheriff’s Department – $774,261.67; and Jail – $410,637.33. Mark McClinton will replace Mason Wages in the role of Public Defender for Circuit Court.

The consent agenda that included Sheriff’s Department and Jail, meal log for jail, claims docket payments and board minutes from December was unanimously approved.

Additionally, a road department work schedule for January 2023 was approved, as well as approval of solid waste register and medical examiner statement of fees (14).

The County Administrator was authorized to loan funds from the General Fund to Help MS Vote Fund, in anticipation of grant proceeds in the amount $98,907.50. Amendments to budget for Election Support Funds were also approved, with an additional $26,761.78. An additional $2,050 for December 2022 & January 2023 (totaling at $4100) was approved for Skinner & Ellis Properties MDHS programs.

In matters of the Sheriff’s Department, the board passed approvals of payroll authorizations for Alec Lipsey to switch from full-time to part-time Jailer and Joshua A. Jones as a new hire as full-time Jailer, both effective January 3rd. Additionally, Terrica Smith was approved as a new hire as part-time Dispatcher, also effective January 3rd.

Furthermore, quotes for roofing work on the Sheriff’s Department were discussed with two bids received — B&C’s quote for $51,300 and Dewees and Swearingen Roofing and Remodeling’s quote for $43,450. The board voted in favor of going with the lowest bid of $43,450 from Dewees and Swearingen Roofing and Remodeling.

The Road Department supervisors authorized the transfer of Solid Waste Foreman David Self from Solid Waste to the Road Department. The board also authorized new employment for Robert Carlisle in the Solid Waste Department and discussed employment to replace Solid Waste Foreman David Self.

In the next 30 days, the county is going to start removing any old bins, totes, freezers, etc. that have been on the road right of way. Only county furnished carts or ones similar to those furnished will  be acceptable for solid waste collection.

The board then adjourned until Tuesday, January 16th 2023.

~ Kendall Stancil

 

Video of complete January 3, 2023, County Board Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ1ewCI2N5o

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After two years, still searching for Jessica Stacks

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NEMiss.News Jessica Stacks flier in store window

 

 

Two years ago today, Jessica Stacks, then age 28, was reported missing in rural Union County.

Stacks was said to have gotten into a small boat with a male companion on the flooded Tallahatchie River early New Year’s day morning.

Her male companion, Jerry Wayne Baggett, told authorities that Stacks asked to get out of the boat onto the northern bank of the river, after the boat had been in the water only a short while. Baggett said Stacks was going to try to walk through the flooded river bottom to Highway 30, about a mile away.

She was not reported missing until late New Year’s Day night.

Over the following few months, state and local public safety workers made an exhaustive search for Stacks using state-of-the-art electronic equipment, helicopters, and cadaver dogs. Authorities spent thousands of man hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars of public resources trying to find Stacks.

They followed clues and tips, some helpful, some not. The case drew national attention and more than a little in the way of advice from social media sleuths, spiritualists and sooth-sayers.

However, two years later there is not enough physical evidence to even determine whether or not a crime has been committed. Having found no body, authorities do not know whether Stacks is dead or alive.

Certainly, there has been no shortage of suspicions and even silly allegations of official skullduggery.

Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards told NEMiss.News, Saturday evening, December 31, 2022, “It’s still an open case. We welcome any new information that may help us determine what happened to Jessica Stacks.”

Edwards and District Attorney Ben Creekmore met during October, 2022, and carefully reviewed information developed during the long investigation. The sheriff said District Attorney Creekmore determined, “I don’t think we have enough to get an indictment and go to a jury trial with it.”

Around 660,000 people are reported missing in the United States every year. On average, all but about 2,000 of the missing individuals are found, dead or alive, before the year is over.

“We’re still working the case and will pursue it until we get it resolved,” said Sheriff Edwards.

NEMiss.News published about 15 articles about the disappearance of Jessica Stacks and the search for her. Readers may read any or all of those stories by clicking the links below:

1-2-21 5:50pm  https://newalbanyunionco.com/search-for-woman-missing-along-tallahatchie-river-to-resume-at-8-a-m-sunday/

1-2-21 7 pm https://newalbanyunionco.com/missing-woman-update-search-with-thermal-imaging-drones-continues/

1-4-21  https://newalbanyunionco.com/tallahatchie-stacks-still-missing/

1-5-21 https://newalbanyunionco.com/officials-exhausting-options-in-search-for-woman-missing-in-tallahatchie-river-bottom/

1-7-21  https://newalbanyunionco.com/woman-still-missing-with-no-new-clues-after-nearly-weeks-search/

1-11-21  https://newalbanyunionco.com/stacks-missing-ten-days-sheriff-not-ready-to-quit-looking/

1-12-21  https://newalbanyunionco.com/sheriff-needs-facts-not-facebook-gossip-social-media-hindering-stacks-search/

1-20-21 https://newalbanyunionco.com/jessica-stacks-search-continues/

1-20-21 https://newalbanyunionco.com/county-buying-search-boat/

1-24-21  https://newalbanyunionco.com/search-rescue-technology-assistance/

1-29-21 https://newalbanyunionco.com/sheriff-continuing-stacks-search/

2-25-21 https://newalbanyunionco.com/national-weather-service-flood-warnings-northeast-ms-rivers/

3-1-21  https://newalbanyunionco.com/jessica-stacks-disappearance-two-month-follow-up/

9-30-21 https://newalbanyunionco.com/jessica-stacks-missing-since-new-years-day-a-nine-month-review-of-the-search-and-investigation/

1-1-22 https://newalbanyunionco.com/a-look-back-on-2021-a-year-of-loss-and-change/

Please share any thoughts, comments or questions in the Comments section below!

 

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UPDATED, Monday afternoon, Dec 12: Gunman arrested at New Albany Walmart Sunday afternoon

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NEMiss.News Arrest of gunman at New Albany Walmart

UPDATE, Monday afternoon, Dec. 12: Charges against Roger H. Struble have been upgraded to attempted aggravated assault, a felony. Bond has been set at $15,000. Struble remains in jail as of 6 p.m. Monday.  Struble was arrested Sunday afternoon after he displayed a firearm during an argument at the New Albany Walmart. 

 

At 4:29 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, the alarm went out instantly all over New Albany – police radios, social media, numerous cell phone calls to 911, etc:

“Gunman at Walmart!” “Shots fired at Walmart!”

Uniformed officers of the New Albany Police Department and Union County Sheriff’s Officers arrived and made entry with drawn guns at the Walmart Store about 60 seconds later.

NEMiss.News Benton Co. Sheriff Goolsby

Benton Co. Sheriff Robby Goolsby acted quickly to avert a possible tragedy.

However, a single lawman, a visitor from a nearby county, already had the situation under control when local officers arrived.

Sheriff Robby Goolsby, elected sheriff of Benton County in 2019, was shopping in the New Albany Walmart when he became aware of an altercation at one of the check-out lanes. Goolsby quickly worked his way toward the ruckus.

He observed a man with a semi-automatic pistol, which he had apparently taken from a holster inside the waistband of his trousers. Goolsby aimed his own handgun at the man and demanded that he drop the weapon. Goolsby was able to take the gun from the man before any shots were fired.

New Albany Police officers arrived and immediately placed Roger H. Struble, age 40, under arrest. Struble is 6 ft., 9 inches tall.

Struble gave officers a current address in Hickory Flat. New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson said it is his understanding that Struble had moved to north Mississippi from the northeastern part of the United States in the recent past.

Robertson said Struble told officers that the other man involved in the argument had pulled a knife on him, but officers could find no evidence of a knife.

Struble will be held at least overnight in the Union County jail. The office of District Attorney Ben Creekmore will determine tomorrow what charges may be filed against Struble.

NEMiss.News Local law officers arrest gunman at Walmart

Local officers placed gunman under arrest at New Albany Walmart

Chief Robertson said he wanted to thank and commend Benton County Sheriff Goolsby for taking quick and decisive action to put a speedy end to what could have be a tragic situation.

No shots were fired. No one was injured.

Kendall C. Stancil of Kenny S Studio took the photograph of Struble being arrested that appears at the top of this story.

 

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Was it a riot or a parade?

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NEMiss.News Police escort

 

Eighteen or 20 law enforcement vehicles went blazing by Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County late Wednesday night.

It was 10 p.m. There were both Union County Sheriff’s Office and New Albany Police Department cars almost bumper-to-bumper. Blue lights flashing and sirens wailing. A major crime in New Albany? A  post-election brawl between Trumpers and anti-Trumpers?

Then, about midway of the parade, a big yellow school bus roaring along, keeping pace with all the police cruisers.

Down the hill on Highway 30 then turning east on Highway 178 (Bankhead) Street, police cars and a school bus making a racket speeding through sleepy downtown New Albany late on a weekday night.

Here’s what was the big deal:
Earlier in the day Wednesday, two East Union High School teams had won the state MHSAA 2A championship in long distance running. Both the girls’ team and the boys’ team had won their state championship.

The winning endurance runners from the East Union teams were on the yellow bus and enjoying a major police escort as they headed back east to their school near Blue Springs.

The two East Union state championships were actually the second and third of the week for Union County endurance runners. The West  Union boys won the state 1A long distance championship two days earlier on Monday, Nov. 7.

The Ingomar School volley ball team team won its championship last month.

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Union County board renews casualty insurance, opens bids for road work

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NEMiss.News C. J Bright, Larry Britt at 9-26 Board meeting

 

The Union County Board of Supervisors renewed the county’s property and liability insurance at its meeting Monday, September 26.

The total premium for these insurance coverages for county operations during the coming year will be $283,966, an increase of 14.7% over the previous year’s premium.

The board opened bids for signs identifying county roads for Emergency/E911 purposes. Riverside Traffic made a bid of $8,076. Vulcan Sign Company bid $7,309.22. The bid was awarded to Vulcan.

Larry Britt, the county’s consulting professional engineer, opened bids for labor only for laying asphalt on County Road 1. Gregory Co. LLC/Murphy Paving bid $221,375; Roberts Paving bid $94,555.50; Southern Paving LLC bid $89,250; and A&B Construction bid $84,500. Britt made a preliminary study of the bids and asked the board to defer awarding the labor contract so he could study the bids more carefully and assure compliance with all parts of the bid request. The board agreed and tabled awarding the bid until a future meeting.

At the request of County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards, the board approved the employment Kirklin Wayne Crutchfield as full-time jailer effective Sept. 26

Chief Deputy Sheriff Baron Baker told the board of a plan to acquire Kevlar protective vests for 25 county deputies and investigators. Baker said the total cost of the 16 vests would be $25,000. He said he had learned how to cover the entire cost by combining state and federal grants. The county will have to pay part of the cost upfront, but the amount would be reimbursed to the county by one of the grants, thus acquiring the vests at no direct cost to Union County general revenue funds.

The Union County Board of Supervisors will next meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 3, 2022.

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Tuesday afternoon wreck involving two semi-trailer trucks and small van sent two to Baptist Hospital

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NEMiss.News Multiple vehicle wreck

 

 

A motor vehicle accident involving two semi-trailer trucks and a minivan sent two people to the hospital early Tuesday afternoon.

The accident occurred at 12:30 p.m., September 27, at the intersection of Highway 15 and Sam T. Barkley Drive, north of the New Albany city limits. The wreck greatly limited the northbound lanes of Highway 15 for about four hours while the injured were seen to, the damaged vehicles were towed or hauled away and the mess on the right-of-way was cleaned up.

NEMiss.News Van in wreck 9-27

One person from minivan was transported to hospital

Two people, one from one of the semitrucks and one from the delivery van, were transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

One of the trailers was loaded with highly flammable bio-diesel fuel and came to rest near an occupied dwelling. The trailer of the other semitruck was empty.

NEMiss.News Wreck vehicle near occupied building

Bio-diesel fuel tanker, very near occupied dwelling. photo courtesy NAFD

New Albany Fire Chief Mark Whiteside remarked that a “perfect storm” had been averted, in that loss of life, serious injuries, and major property destruction had been avoided in a very dangerous set of circumstances.

 

The accident is under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The Union County Sheriff’s Office and New Albany Police Department assisted at the scene.

NEmiss.News Widespread accident scene

Widespread wreck, intersection of Hwy 15 and Sam T. Barkley Dr.

The North Haven Fire Department and the New Albany Fire Department’s Rescue One Unit responded to the accident, as did two Baptist Memorial Hospital ambulances operated by Priority.

The busy intersection where Sam T. Barkley Drive dead ends at Highway 15 has been the site of several serious accidents in recent years.

 

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Two car wreck in New Albany early Saturday evening sends injured to hospital

NEMiss.News Two car wreck on HWY 15 bridge in New Albany

 

 

A two-car collision near the intersection of Highway 15 and Highway178 (Bankhead St.) sent one or more injury victims to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County Saturday evening.

The extent of the injuries was not known as this was written, but a public safety official told NEMiss.News there was at least one serious head injury.

NEMiss.News Wreck on Hwy 15 near Bankhead intersection

Hwy. 15 wreck blocked traffic in all directions for about 1 hour, 9-24-2022.

One victim was reported trapped in the vehicle. The Rescue One unit of the New Albany Fire Department dealt with the entrapment.

Three ambulances from Baptist Hospital attended the injured.

The accident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, perhaps 15 minutes after sunset, which was at 6:48 p.m.

From what could be observed at the scene, the two vehicles came to rest about one hundred yards north of the Highway 15/Highway 178 intersection and about the same distance south of the Highway 15/Highway 348 intersection.

An investigation by the New Albany Police Department (NAPD) may reveal how the two cars collided that far from any intersection.

Traffic was backed up for more than an hour in all directions from the busy Highway 15/Highway 178 traffic signal.

NAPD was the primary law enforcement agency on the scene. There were also units from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and Mississippi Highway Patrol.

More details will be published here if and when they are available.

 

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Serious injuries in two-car collision Wednesday morning on Highway 15

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NEMiss.News

 

A two-vehicle motor vehicle accident late Wednesday morning, June 22, resulted in serious injuries to occupants of the colliding cars.

The accident occurred a little before noon near the intersection of Highway 15 and Union County Road 88 south of New Albany.

A fire erupted in at least one of the cars.  It was at first feared that passengers were entrapped in the burning car. However, New Albany Fire Chief Mark Whiteside said victims were out of the cars by the time rescue units arrived.

Several public safety organizations dispatched personnel and equipment to the accident scene. They included the Ingomar Fire Department, New Albany Fire and Rescue, the Union County Sheriff’s Department, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County dispatched three ambulances and a medical helicopter.

NEMiss.News fiery two car accident

Serious injuries occurred at this accident scene 6-22-2022.

At least one of the victims was transported by the helicopter to a trauma center.

Contrary to rumors circulated by word-of-mouth and social media, none of the injured died at the accident scene.

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